Trekking on the ApennineS
...and not only
Corno alle Scale Regional Park
Lizzano In Belvedere/Vidiciatico
Lizzano in Belvedere area is located on the border between the provinces of Modena and Pistoia, at the tip of the Bologna Apennines, whose highest peak is Corno alle Scale (1945 mt.), famous for its ski slopes and for Corno alle Scale regional park, which extends to the foot of the mountains. Why visit The town is a small mountain oasis, a perfect blend of environment, tradition, and modern tourism. In the Corno alle Scale area, relaxation, fun, wellness and sport combine to create a mix of emotions and unique opportunities, offering tourists a complete holiday. Pass through the valleys on mountain bike or on foot, or spend a few hours in the tranquillity of a mountain lodge: these are just two of the many ways you can rediscover peace of mind and body. Where to visit and what to see Lizzano in Belvedere and its surrounding areas offer you an unforgettable holiday. On the slopes of Corno alle Scale, emotions are reborn in every season, offering tourists new opportunities throughout the year. In winter, if you love speed and fun, there are the slopes named after Alberto Tomba, where the Bologna-born champion often returns to ski. If you’re looking for different emotions, there are many Alpine ski trails as well as a modern snow park for snow boarding and acrobatic tricks. When spring arrives, the area becomes a magnificent outdoor arena for trekking, mountain biking, paragliding, archery, or more traditional sports such as tennis, football, basketball, volleyball and swimming. And in any season, you can treat yourself to a break from daily rhythms, pausing to relax in contact with nature or in the warmth of a lodge, tasting the many typical products that make Emilian cuisine famous, or visiting the area’s many historical monuments, starting with Lizzano’s ancient round church, known as “Rotonda” or “Delubro,” a proto-Romanesque construction dating back to the Longobard age.
For fun, close to Vidiciatico, at the top of Monte Pizzo, you absolutely must experience the “Montepizzo Adventure Park" , the first in Europe completely without barriers; and at Vidiciatico, the beautiful “Conca del Sole” swimming pool with its 50-metre slide, geysers, inflatable games, and beach volley. To keep fit To stay fit without stress, we offer sport fishing lakes, horseback riding, and thermal baths at Porretta Terme (km. 13); for more demanding exercise, there are the paraglide take-off ramp at Monte Pizzo , the archery range at Budiara (Km. 8), and countless trekking trails.
Nearby Vidiciatico not to be missed are the ethnographic museum at Poggiolforato devoted to mountain trades and culture, and the Visitor Centres for Corno alle Scale park at Madonna dell’Acero where also there is the Sanctuary of Madonna dell’Acero built to recall various apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Don't miss You can’t leave the area of Lizzano in Belvedere without coming to Lake Scaffaiolo (km. 19) and enjoying the splendid panorama of both the Apennines and the Apuane Alps, trekking the five waterfalls of the Dardagna (km. 12), and visiting the small medieval village of Monte Acuto delle Alpi (km. 8).
Tolè
Tolè is a pretty hamlet in the Comune of Vergato, situated in the middle of the green hills of the Bolognese Apennine. In this very joyful and delightful village, visitors can discover historical, artistic and environmental riches. The village name Tolè originates from the Latin word Tauletum, meaning the skill of producing wooden boards. As a matter of fact, the locals have been skilled wood-carvers since medieval times, which was obvious considering the large woods covering the whole of its area. Owing to its location in the middle of an alluvial, it became an ideal meeting and exchange point for the inhabitants of the surrounding mountains. Until the unification of Italy, Tolè was also a customs point. Its Church still preserves a copy of Sant'Agostino Carracci's Assunta above its main altar-piece. On the other hand, very little has remained of ancient picturesque buildings including the Tower (La Torre), which is listed among the most important buildings in the Bolognese Apennine.
Castel d' Aiano
Castel d'Aiano is a small, charming village hidden in natural, green hills of the Bolognese Appenines (650 m above sea level) where one can wander through time and history, visiting the village festivals and tasting the local food.With an altitude that varies from a minimum of 305 m. to a maximum of 1000 m. above sea level, Castel d’Aiano is the highest located village in the district of Bologna, covering an area of 54 Kmq, with a population of about 1.800 inhabitants. Castel d’Aiano is also well known for its live representations of the holy nativity scene, which are performed in the churches and caves of Labante, Villa d’Aiano and Castel d’Aiano.The fortified settlement of Aiano dates back to the 7 th. - 8 th. century and was restored again in the 10 th. century. It was situated on high ground over looking the surroundings. Built on the borderline between Bologna and Modena, it was often disputed over, until finally it was settled as territory of Bologna. During the Second World War Castel d’Aiano found itself on the retreating Gothic Line and was seriously damaged during the bombings of November 1944..
Historic Regional Park of Monte Sole
The Historic Regional Park of Monte Sole covers an area of about 6,300 hectares stretching over the Municipalities of Marzabotto, Monzuno and Grizzana Morandi. Mount Sole and its park are part of a small chain of mountains in the province of Bologna between the Reno River and the Setta stream; these mountains reach a height of 826 meters above sea level.The Park is of interest not only for its natural beauties and rich wildlife but also for its historical importance related to the tragic events that took place in the area of Mount Sole between September 29 and October 5, 1944. Here, in fact, hundreds of innocent people together with part of the Brigata Partigiana Stella Rossa were slain by Nazi soldiers; one of the most tragic pages of the Liberation War and of Italy’s history was unfortunately written right here, in the valleys and peaceful hills of these areas. The German soldiers massacred 770 harmless people, mostly women and children, believed to have helped the partisans in this area.Thanks to a regional law, the Historic Regional Park of Monte Sole was created precisely where these atrocities were committed; this is the first park in Italy instituted in this way, with the aim of reminding future generations of those dramatic events, so that reflection on what has happened here and will continue and that life can be brought back to the many places affected by this horrible conflict. The “Il memoriale” itinerary inside the park includes the symbolic places of the massacre, passing also by Il Poggiolo Visitor Centre and going up to the top of Mount Sole. Here visitors will find a stone in memory of the partisans that died in these valleys during the Liberation War.The Park offers much more than just a journey back in Italy’s history: in fact more than 936 floral species have been identified here. Considering that the regional flora includes about 2700 species, about 1/3 of Emilia Romagna's floral diversity is present in the Historic Park of Monte Sole.The fauna of the park is also very diverse due to the wide range of environments typical of the hills and foothills of the Apennines: from the riverbeds of the Reno and Setta to the deciduous woods with hornbeams and Turkey oaks, through a complex mosaic of pastures, fields, bushes, and woods both natural and man made, gullies and cliffs. The protected area is a surprising treasure chest of biodiversity, with the presence of rare species of great conservationist value both regionally and throughout Europe and the rich wild fauna is a testament to the integrity of and strength of this environment.This park combines sweeping views and intensely beautiful nature with historic value, the moving ruins of a church, past events written in the stones of a wall, told by ancient communities, tales of life, war and its aftermath.
Regional Park of Suviana and Brasimone Lakes
The Parco Regionale dei Laghi di Suviana e Brasimone (also known as Parco dei Laghi) covers an area of 3,329 hectares in the municipalities of Camugnano, Castel di Casio and Castiglione dei Pepoli in the province of Bologna, in the central section of the Bologna Apennines, with an altitude that ranges from 468 to 1,283 metres above sea level.
This park is located in a wonderful position with two large artificial reservoirs created in the last century, the splendid lakes of Suviana and Brasimone. The chain formed by Mount Stagno and Mount Calvi separates the valleys of the Brasimone and Limentra di Treppio streams, the main influents to the two lakes. The technological system that controls the hydroelectric systems of Suviana and Brasimone are of particular interest; the visitor centre in Suviana is dedicated to water and hosts an information point of Enea (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment). The lakes are very popular in the summer for their canoeing and windsurfing facilities.
