The Mirandola - Bologna section of the Ciclovia del Sole is a beautiful bike route that crosses the plains around Bologna. It is suitable for everyone because it's flat, equipped with rest stops and well marked. A pleasant itinerary for the whole family, that can be enriched with some special stop-overs for young riders.
We start our bike ride by following the symbol of the sun that accompanies cyclists along the route up to the town of Crevalcore, where, among the elegant buildings of the historic centre, we will find the Leo Preti Puppet Museum. Here, children and adults can discover the prestigious collection of the puppeteer Leo Preti, who was born and raised in Crevalcore at the beginning of the 20th century. The museum contains an original puppet theatre of the time, numerous puppets, costumes, small pieces of furniture, props and 110 painted backdrops from different periods.
Curiosities
The Leo Preti Puppet Museum is known as the "smallest puppet museum in the world."
To know
The museum is open on special days listed on the website or upon prior request.
From Crevalcore we continue for about 9 km of bike path and reach San Giovanni in Persiceto, home of the very special Carnival of the "Spillo". A must-see is the colorful Piazzetta Betlemme, a corner of Persiceto where reality meets fantasy, thanks to the colorful trompe l'oeil murals that film set designer Gino Pellegrini dedicated "to children of all ages".
Enjoy spotting fantastical vegetables and animals, small homages to cinema, and fake sheets that seem to come out of the windows, in a play of references that has earned this little square the nickname "Piazzetta degli Inganni."
Tip
During a brief stop in Piazza del Popolo, don't miss the statue dedicated to "King Gino," the famous orange-coated cat who used to stroll through the streets of the center and linger in the windows of the town's shops.
Continuing on the Ciclovia del Sole, not far from San Giovanni, we will find the Naturalistic Area La Bora, where children can find a protected corner of nature that is home to many plant and animal species, especially birds.
Curiosity
The area is home to a pond turtle repopulation center. Every year, many small turtles are raised here in a protected environment and released back into the area as soon as they are able to fend for themselves.
To know
The area has a self-guided tour trail that passes two sides of the pond and then enters the forest. Along the screened path, there are three observation points, a hut, and information panels describing the species that can be observed.
Continuing towards Bologna, we will arrive in the area of Sala Bolognese, where, with a small detour on secondary roads, some of which are bordered by cycle lanes, we will reach Giocars - Museum of Toys in Motion. Adults and children alike can get lost in the rich collection of antique toys, all characterised by the theme of movement: from toy cars to tricycles, from baby carriages to rocking horses and carousels with little horses.
To know
The museum is open on specific days indicated on the website or upon prior request.
Our itinerary ends on a sweet note with a stop at the Gelato Museum Carpigiani in Anzola dell'Emilia, the first museum in the world dedicated to the history and culture of made in Italy ice cream.
To reach the Museum it is necessary to make a detour from the Ciclovia del Sole, either along secondary roads or by taking the bike path along the Via Emilia.
To taste
In addition to visiting the Museum, upon reservation, you can participate in workshops and tastings designed especially for children.
