The Montagnola is an artificial plateau formed by the accumulation of debris from the nearby 14th century Galliera Castle.

This castle had been built by Bertrando del Poggetto to house the pope and his court.

Here, on 6 January 1798, the remains of Luigi Zamboni and Giovanni Battista De Rolandis were solemnly buried by direct order of Napoleon.

On the northwest side, a scenographic Pincio staircase (1893–1896), designed by Tito Azzolini and Attilio Muggia, leads up to the park.

[5] The park was also the site of the "Battle of Montagnola" on 8 August 1848, in which Italian revolutionaries from Bologna defeated and temporarily expelled the Austrians.