Marzabotto is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It lies in the Reno valley, in the Bolognese Apennines, south of Bologna. The municipality is known for the archaeological site of Kainua, one of the most important examples of Etruscan urban planning, and for the Marzabotto massacre, also known as the massacre of Monte Sole, one of the largest massacres of civilians committed by German forces in Italy during the Second World War.

The area was occupied in antiquity by the Etruscan city of Kainua, founded in the late sixth century BC and abandoned during the fourth century BC. During the Second World War, between 29 September and 5 October 1944, German SS units and associated forces killed hundreds of civilians in the Monte Sole area, striking villages, farmsteads, churches and cemeteries in the municipalities of Marzabotto, Monzuno and Grizzana Morandi. The town was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor in 1948.

Marzabotto is located in the Reno valley, in the central part of the Bolognese Apennines, about 26 kilometres south of Bologna. The municipal territory extends over 74.53 square kilometres and includes both settlements along the valley corridor of the Strada statale 64 Porrettana and the Porrettana railway, and upland areas connected with Monte Sole.

The municipal statute lists the following frazioni: Allocco, Gardeletta, Lama di Reno, Lama di Setta, Luminasio, Malfolle, Medelana, Montasico, Panico, Pian di Venola, Pioppe di Salvaro, Quercia, Sibano, Sirano and Sperticano, besides the main town of Marzabotto. The territory borders the municipalities of Sasso Marconi, Monzuno, Grizzana Morandi, Vergato, Valsamoggia and Monte San Pietro.

The Monte Sole Historic Park occupies part of the municipal area and extends across Marzabotto, Monzuno and Grizzana Morandi, between the Reno and Setta valleys.

The modern municipality was historically connected with Caprara sopra Panico. In the nineteenth century the administrative centre shifted towards the valley floor. By royal decree of 2 July 1882, the municipality of Caprara sopra Panico changed its name to Marzabotto, where the municipal seat had already been transferred.

The archaeological area of Marzabotto contains the remains of Kainua, an Etruscan city situated on the Pian di Misano and on the nearby height of Misanello. According to the Italian Ministry of Culture, the ancient city occupied the area from the end of the sixth century BC to the middle of the fourth century BC and is a unique case among Etruscan urban centres because the abandonment of the site preserved the original layout of the city.

The city was laid out with a planned urban structure. The University of Bologna describes Kainua as one of the most complete examples of Etruscan urban planning. Excavations have made it possible to reconstruct the urban layout, inhabited areas, temples, workshops and necropolises. The upper area, or acropolis, contained sacred buildings and altars, while the lower city occupied a plateau overlooking the Reno river.