If you are a fan of outdoor adventures and exciting cycling, there is no better place to explore than the wonderful area of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Park by mountain bike.
Located between the provinces of Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Bologna, this natural park offers a unique and fascinating landscape, perfect for MTB lovers looking for new challenges.
The excursion between Riolo Terme and Brisighella is ideal for everyone, especially for those who love nature and life in the open air. The passion for cycling is very strong in this area and this is also why you will find well-maintained and pleasant roads to ride on and well-marked paths, in fact there are many locals who travel along them by bicycle in every season of the year, and it is also possible to enjoy a varied and scenic landscape, enriched by historical and naturalistic evidence.
In the first part, the route immerses itself in the Senio Valley, among vineyards and lush vegetation; the landscape becomes more harsh and barren characterized by gullies, going up towards Brisighella. You will encounter panoramic points with breathtaking views of an area designed by nature.
Riolo Terme is a town full of charm and from which this itinerary starts, and it is also where a "Riolo Terme Cycling Hub" network of bike-friendly services and hospitality was born; if you need to rent bicycles you can do so by contacting this network.
The starting point of the itinerary is in the car park located in the River Park of Riolo Terme, one of the most renowned spa resorts in Italy, nestled in the suggestive Senio Valley between Imola and Faenza.
Traveling along the Riolo Terme-Zattaglia provincial road for about 10 km in the direction of Brisighella, follow the signs for Monte Rontana and then on the right those that lead to the Cà Carnè Visitor Center and Refuge, the main reception facility for visitors to the Vena Regional Park of Gesso Romagnola. Here you can take advantage of the various services offered and visit the fauna museum.
From this point, follow the CAI path 505, characterized by significant slopes, and then take the path indicated with the CAI number 511.
Be careful not to be fooled by a gate that seems to close the road: you will have to continue on path 511, turning left before reaching it.
Pay particular attention during the steep descent until you reach the Castelnuovo chalk area. From here, abandon path 511, as it is no longer accessible by bicycle, and get back on the provincial road that leads to Brisighella.
Brisighella, an ancient medieval village built at the end of the thirteenth century, is located in the lower Lamone valley, at the foot of the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines.
Inserted in the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy, the town extends over three rocky pinnacles, known as the Three Hills, on which some of its most important monuments stand. Riding your bicycle, you can reach the second hill and visit the Rocca Manfrediana, a military fortress built in 1310.
The latter, in addition to offering a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and the village, also houses the "Man and Chalk", an exhibition that reconstructs the relationship between man and the chalk caves starting from the protohistoric period.
Finally, head towards the historic center of Brisighella for a short stop before resuming the journey among colorful houses, suggestive alleys and splendid architecture.
After leaving Brisighella, follow the SP 302 downhill. At the first intersection, turn left onto Via Rio Chiè, towards Villa Vezzano.
Here you will find a charming little church dating back to 1296 and the Torre del Marino, one of the ancient towers built in the 15th century for defensive purposes.
To reach the latter, located in a panoramic position on a badland hill, take a left onto Via Torre del Marino. Once the visit is concluded, resume the main itinerary following the signs for Riolo Terme and reconnect to the provincial road traveled previously.
You then arrive at the car park in the Riolo Terme River Park, from where you started your journey.
From here, you can proceed along Via Don Giovanni Costa and Via Garibaldi up to Piazza Mazzanti, to visit the Rocca Sforzesca built in the 14th century, home to the Faenza Apennines Landscape Museum and the documentation center of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Park.
A circle of sturdy walls extends around the charming ancient village and the fortress, offering a splendid and peaceful panorama.
In addition to this historic part of the town, the new area develops near the majestic Parco delle Terme, where hotels and guesthouses fit harmoniously among gardens and tree-lined avenues.
