This 24-hour itinerary in the countryside features four stops that showcase the diverse landscapes of the Bologna area: from scenic parks on the hills just outside the city center to the evocative badlands shaped by time, all the way to the wetlands of the plain.
A short journey through nature, panoramic views, and biodiversity that allows you to discover a quieter and more surprising side of Bologna, perfect for experiencing in the spring.
With the arrival of spring, Bologna changes pace: the hills turn green, the parks come back to life, and nature takes center stage: the days grow longer, the hills turn green again, and the parks become perfect places to spend a few hours outdoors. It is the ideal season to explore the area at a leisurely pace, amid panoramic views, trails, and natural spaces where you can observe nature reawakening and enjoy the sun.
This 24-hour itinerary traverses diverse landscapes in the Bologna area, from scenic parks on the hills to the Sabbiuno badlands and the wetlands of the plain.
A route suited for those who love walking and being outdoors, ideal for discovering a quieter, more natural side of Bologna.
This spring itinerary to explore the Bologna area begins just a few minutes from the city center, at one of the most picturesque viewpoints overlooking the Bolognese hills, in San Pellegrino Park, along Via di Casaglia.
This spot is known to Bolognese locals primarily as “ai 300 scalini”, from the path leading up to the viewpoint at the top of the hill.
The climb is rewarded with a sweeping and breathtaking view: from the meadows that characterize much of the park, the gaze sweeps over the hills of Bologna, the surrounding valleys, and the plain, with a splendid glimpse of the Sanctuary of San Luca. In spring, when the meadows turn a deep green and the vegetation awakens, this place becomes perfect for a walk in the fresh air or a relaxing break in the sun.
The park extends for about 27 hectares along the ridge separating the Meloncello and Ravone valleys.
The landscaping of the area has preserved its original agricultural character: the ancient fields have become meadows, and fruit trees continue to mark the old boundaries of the plots.
In the Meloncello valley, however, lies the most natural part, with poplars, willows, and elderberries along the watercourse and small groves of hornbeams and hazelnuts on the slopes.
Curiosity
The park’s name derives from the Ritiro San Pellegrino, a religious institute founded in the second half of the 19th century in this area. In the surrounding area, ancient rural settlements are still recognizable, such as Casa Giuliani and Casa Breventan, which already appeared on 18th-century maps.
Tip
Given the challenging climb, comfortable shoes are recommended.
A corner of nature surprisingly close to the city, perfect for starting the itinerary with a scenic walk.
The itinerary continues through the first hills south of the city, in the Villa Ghigi Park, a large green area of nearly 28 hectares located just outside Porta San Mamolo.
The park alternates cultivated areas, meadows, and small woods, offering a highly representative example of the agricultural landscape of the Bologna hills. It is precisely this combination of nature and rural activities that makes it a unique place among the city’s parks: alongside the meadows and groves, there are vineyards, vegetable gardens, and ancient orchards, crisscrossed by traditional dirt country roads.
In spring, the park is particularly pleasant to explore on foot.
To Do
An ideal place to slow down and discover one of the most authentic landscapes of the Bologna hills.
To know
The park takes its name from the Ghigi family, who lived in the 19th-century villa located at the center of the property until 1972. Among its most illustrious members was Alessandro Ghigi, a naturalist and rector of the University of Bologna, who was the first to express the desire to dedicate this area to the city. Opened to the public in 1975, today the park is managed by the Rusconi Ghigi Foundation, which is committed to environmental education and guided tours dedicated to discovering nature and the seasons.
Curiosities
Leaving the city’s hillside parks behind, the itinerary concludes in one of the most striking natural landscapes in the Bologna area: the Sabbiuno Badlands Park, located about 9 kilometers from the city center.
Covering about 33 hectares, this natural area offers one of the most spectacular views of the Bologna hills.
The park is famous for its calanchi, striking clay formations shaped over time by the action of water and wind. The result is an almost lunar landscape, made up of narrow ridges, steep walls, and small pinnacles that change color with the light of day.
The park is located on the ridge between the Reno and Savena valleys, along Via di Sabbiuno, an ancient road that connected Bologna to Tuscany. The slope toward the Savena is gentler and crisscrossed by meadows and trails, among wild rose bushes, hawthorns, and trees such as maples, elms, and manna ash.
Here you can stop and enjoy splendid views of the surrounding hills. On the opposite side, however, lies an imposing natural amphitheater of badlands, dotted in spring with the yellow of broom. A one-of-a-kind landscape, where nature tells the geological history of the area.
To know
On the edge of the park stands the Sabbiuno War Memorial, dedicated to the approximately 100 partisans killed by the Nazi-Fascists in December 1944.
The memorial, built in the 1970s by the Gruppo Architetti Città Nuova, is one of the most significant sites commemorating the Bolognese Resistance. A small exhibition dedicated to these events is also on display in the nearby farmhouses of Cà Croce.
