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Bologna Ferrara Romagna - The ancient water ways
From the Bologna Apennines to the Ferrara Plains
This area between Bologna and Ferrara is full of delights. The bridle paths start from the Apennines or in the foothills and go all the way to that great, spectacular oasis that is the Po Delta Park. The best time to go riding in this area is in spring or autumn. There are many particular foods to taste: Ferrara bread (the famous “coppia”), pumpkin filled pasta, salama da sugo and of course eel cooked in every way imaginable.
Two possible itineraries:
- from Monteveglio to Lido delle Nazioni crossing through Zenerigolo, Portomaggiore and Savarna with two possible alternatives from Calderino to Zenerigolo (20 km) and from Sasso Marconi (Lagure) to Zenerigolo (43 km);
- from Castel dell’Alpi to Savarna di Ravenna crossing through Rastignano and Vedrana di Budrio with five possible alternatives from Campeggio to Ca' di Bazzone (20 km), from Ca' di Bazzone to Vedrana di Budrio (35 km), from Castel S.Pietro (Liano) to Vedrana di Budrio (35 km), from Castel del Rio to S.Agata sul Santerno (50 km), from S.Agata sul Santerno to Savarna (35 km).
Monteveglio - Lido delle Nazioni: da Monteveglio a Zenerigolo (San Giovanni in Persiceto): 15 km (1 giornata)
A Monteveglio non si può perdere una visita alla celebre Abbazia matildica. E anche qualche acquisto di vini DOC della zona (qui c'è anche la sede del Consorzio vinicolo). A cavallo poi si parte dall'agriturismo contrassegnato dal numero 1 e si costeggiano le sponde del fiume Samoggia, immersi in grandi spazi confinanti all'orizzonte. Dopo alcune ore di marcia, continuando a tenere dietro le spalle i monti appenninici, si arriva all'affluenza del torrente Lavino (in località Forcelli). A Zenerigolo è possibile fermarsi per una breve e piacevole sosta. San Giovanni in Persiceto, tipico paese emiliano vale una visita, anche per assaggiare le specialità gastronomiche bolognesi, a cominciare dal tipico antipasto di crescentina e salumi.
Monteveglio - Lido delle Nazioni: da Zenerigolo a Portomaggiore: 65 km (1 giornata)
Il viaggio riprende da Zenerigolo. In breve si raggiungono gli altissimi argini del fiume Reno dai quali si può ammirare l'immensa distesa di campi coltivati a frutteto e a vigna. Si procede sui verdi prati degli argini con buona andatura. Nel percorso si passano i centri storici di Cento, Poggio Renatico ed i caratteristici paesini che si snodano lungo le rive del fiume. Non è difficile avvistare nel territorio le antiche torri di guardia. A proposito di Cento, é la patria del pittore Guercino: i suoi dipinti sono conservati nell'importante Pinacoteca civica. Il centro storico è ricco di belle strade porticate, palazzi e chiese. Questa è anche la zona di un insaccato tipico e particolarissimo, prodotto nella intera provincia di Ferrara: la salama da sugo. Si arriva così al C.T.E. La Casetta (Portomaggiore) dove è possibile alloggiare in scuderia i cavalli ed albergare i cavalieri.
Monteveglio - Lido delle Nazioni: from Monteveglio to Zenerigolo (San Giovanni in Persiceto): 15 km (1 day)
In Monteveglio you cannot miss a visit to the famous Matilde Abbey. And some DOC wine from the area should be bought (here there is also the Consortium of wineries). On horseback, you can start out from the farm holiday marked 1, going alongside the banks of the Samoggia river, immersed in wide open spaces. After a few hours of riding, keeping the Apennines at your back, you reach the Lavino river (in the town of Forcelli). In Zenerigolo, it is possible to stop for a short and pleasing rest. San Giovanni in Persiceto, a typical Emilia town, warrants a visit, also to taste the Bologna specialties, starting with the typical appetizer of crescentina (bread) and cold cuts.
Monteveglio - Lido delle Nazioni: from Zenerigolo to Portomaggiore: 65 km (1 day)
The trip picks up again in Zenerigolo. You quickly reach the high banks of the Reno River from which you can admire the immense expanse of fields with crops, fruit trees and grapes. You can continue along the green grasses of the banks quite easily. Along the way, you pass through the historic centers of Cento, Poggio Renatico and the characteristic little towns that wind along the banks of the river. It is not difficult to see the ancient guard towers in this area. Speaking of Cento, the hometown of the painter Guercino: his paintings are housed in the important city Pinacoteca. The historic downtown of Cento is full of porticoes along the streets, palaces and churches. This is also the home of a very particular salami, produced everywhere in the province of Ferrara: the salama da sugo. Here you reach the C.T.E La Casetta (Portomaggiore) where it is possible to put up the horses in a stable and the riders in the hotel.
Monteveglio - Lido delle Nazioni: from Savarna to Lido delle Nazioni: 40 km (1 day)
The trip starts again and winds through the swampy landscape, with frequent crossings of streams, full of rare flora and typical fauna. There are many bird species that live and nest here. The Po Delta is made up of river valleys, both fresh and brackish, and in many places the landscape here has remained completely untouched. This is how you get to Savarna. The resting spot in this area of the Delta Park is the Equestrian Center Spiaggia Romea, in Lido delle Nazioni, near the splendid expanses of water of the Bertuzzi Valley and the Nazioni Lake.
Castel dell’Alpi - Savarna di Ravenna: from Castel dell'Alpi a Rastignano Cartiera di Sesto: 30 km (1 day)
Equestrians that want to try other bridle paths can choose for example the Monteveglio - Lido delle Nazioni itinerary. Start from Castel dell’Alpi, and wind along the edge of the banks of the river Savena near Rastignano Cartiera di Sesto. Here you will reach the place were the river crosses the Idice river. This itinerary is interesting because it winds through hills and thick forests. When you get near Bologna, there is the Vena del Gesso (Gypsum Vein) with spectacular clayey bights. The center of the regional Park of Bologna Gypsum and the Bights of Abbadessa organizes guided visits and trips down into the underground caves of the gypsum outcroppings.
Castel dell’Alpi - Savarna di Ravenna: from Rastignano to Vedrana di Budrio: 30 km (1 day)
This ride starts out along the banks of the river Idice. On the right bank, there is the town of Vedrana di Budrio. If you want, you can stop and see the church, dedicated to Maria Annunziata (11th or 12th century). Even older is the Romanesque Pieve di Budrio, not too far from here. The crypt of the church is from the primitive plebian church of saints Gervasio and Protasio (Late Middle Ages). Inside there is a huge marble cross from the 9th century. The ride continues on across the Bologna plains until it links up with the Monteveglio – Lido delle Nazioni path near Bastia.
Castel dell’Alpi - Savarna di Ravenna: from Vedrana di Budrio to Savarna di Ravenna: 45 km (1 day)
There are other itineraries in the middle of the nature that is part of the Apennines. Among these, there is the one that leaves from Martina Park (Sanctuary of Campeggio). This itinerary goes down along the river Idice. Then it links back up, where the Idice crosses the Savena, with the path which from Castel dell’Alpe runs along the bank. Along this section, it is surely worth it to make a few little stops and visit the hill towns of Monterenzio, Bisano and Monte delle Formiche. Then it’s on to Castel Del Rio, a medieval town with many imposing manors belonging to the noble Alidosi family. The Alidosi bridge is famous, an engineering masterpiece humpbacked bridge. The most important product of this area is the chestnut, much bigger than normal and which now has its own, very new, museum. On horseback it’s nice to follow the Santerno River which gave its name to the surrounding valley and which stretches out across the plains until it reaches the path in the Comacchio valleys after Argenta.
Places to stop
Azienda Agrituristica "La Stadira"
via Acqua Fredda, 17
tel./ fax 051.831429
Closed in January
B&B "Cà dei Cigni"
via Poggio, 39
tel. 051.823391- cell. 3472821704 e 3355684675
Closed from July 10 to August 31, from September 15 to 31, from mid-December to mid-January
Centro Turismo Equestre "La Casetta"
via Cà Rossa, 12
cell. 3396528387 - fax 0533.51316
Allevamento "La Torre"
via Chiesa vecchia, 9
tel. 0544.532189
C.I. "Spiaggia Romea"
viale Oasi, 2
tel. 0533.355366 - fax 0533.355113
Equestrian club: always open
Azienda Agrituristica C.I. "Sasso Rosso"
Località Sasso Rosso, 64/1
tel./ fax 051.6771802
Closed from January to March; closed Mondays and Sunday evenings
Azienda Agrituristica "Le Braine"
Località Le Braime, 179
tel./ fax 051.6778179
C.T.E. "Noble Lion"
via Coltermine, 5
mobile +39 348 2334303
C.I. "El Paso"
via Del Bosco, 109
tel. 051.6519884
Closed beginning at the end of August
B&B "Locanda di Monterone"
via Piombarola, 6
tel. 051.6288619
Closed from mid-December to mid-March
Associazione Sportiva Sesto Campazzo
via Verdi, 21
mobile +39 339 3772902
A.I.A. Sport
via Jussi, 141 (presso G.E.S.E.)
cell. 335365970 - fax 051.6241338
Closed from mid-June to mid-September
B&B "Il Borgo"
via Liano, 4231
tel./ fax 051.6942042
Closed from February 1 to July 30, from September 6 to December 15
Podere "Cà San Nicolò"
via S.Donato, 3/3
tel./ fax 051.761296
15 - Vedrana - Budrio BO
Azienda Agrituristica C.I. "Montefano"
via S.Donato, 3/3
tel. 051.6929096
Closed on Mondays
