The Path of San Vicinio is one of the oldest historical paths in Italy. It is a 300 km long circular route between the provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Arezzo and Rimini.
The path is great for hiking or slow walking. As the name suggests, it retraces the places visited by Saint Vicinio, the first bishop of Sarsina, between the Savio Valley, Monte Fumaiolo and the Adriatic Sea.
The new San Vicinio cycling route complements the path: a circular cycling route that passes through the same places as the Path of San Vicinio.
You will be able to enjoy the breathtaking landscape, with its castles and woodlands, along with the beauty of the many villages along the way, with their art and culture.
In addition to the usual signposts for hikers, cyclists can find specific signposts and identification stickers for the cycle route, which in some places departs from the traditional forest tracks to move onto easier dirt or asphalt roads with low traffic.
Due to its length (approximately 325 km) and its ups and downs, with an altitude difference of more than 8000 metres, the route is quite challenging and it is advisable to use a mountain bike, a gravel bike or an e-bike.
Just like the Path of San Vicinio, the bike path is closely linked to the town of Sarsina, the ideal place of departure and arrival, and to the figure of Bishop Vicinio, whose remains are kept in the millenary Sarsina Cathedral.
The letter “O” in the bike path logo is based on the stylised image of the collar of Saint Vicinio, the sacred relic that has been used for centuries to bless pilgrims.
Following it counter-clockwise, the route leads to Bagno di Romagna, enters the Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park, and then returns to Romagna through the towns of Verghereto and Le Balze.
Amidst breathtaking views, small lakes and waterfalls, the route descends towards the village of Sant’Agata Feltria, in the heart of the Rubicone valley, to reach Borghi and Montiano, and then on to Cesena; and finally back to Sarsina, passing through Mercato Saraceno.
Along the route there are several places of cultural and spiritual interest, such as the Monastery and the Hermitage of Camaldoli, which make up the hermitic community of Benedictine monks founded by Saint Romuald in 1025; the Abbey of Monte di Cesena, the Pieve di Montesorbo and the Franciscan sanctuary of "La Verna" with the Chapel of the Stigmata, the museum dedicated to the Saint and the very ancient Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
