Mountains Roads Volume I – Discovering the Apennines between Bologna and Pistoia

Strade Montane (Mountain Roads) is a cycling project to discover the Apennine region between Emilia and Tuscany, in Italy. It takes you on the paths, back roads and main roads that run through the valleys and ridges – and among ancient villages, boundless woods and silent mountainsides.

In this Collection, we present Volume I: the first edition of the series. It’s composed of four loops in the areas of the Upper Reno and Tre Limentre, around the territories of the Regional Park of the Lakes of Suviana and Brasimone.

In each Tour, you will find a detailed description of the route, enriched by anecdotes about the history of the region. Some of the places you discover seem almost forgotten today but were great protagonists of the economic and commercial development of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna before the Second World War.

You can cover each of these tours in a day if you are in good physical shape. Alternatively, you can adopt a more leisurely, bikepacking approach, splitting them into two or more stages each.

If you have a few days to play with, it may be a good idea to base yourself in Porretta Terme, a picturesque holiday resort in the heart of the Apennines. It’s easily reached from Bologna and Pistoia in just over an hour thanks to the regional trains, which are also equipped to transport bicycles. In this way, you can discover a different trail every day and you could even treat yourself to some post-ride relaxation and wellness in the town's renowned thermal centre.

There’s more to Porretta's than its thermal baths too. It’s also a hub of art, thanks to the marvellous examples of Italian Art Nouveau. As well as this, the town is home to the famous Porretta Soul Festival, which has hosted world-famous artists every year since 1987, as well as the Film Festival.

In summer, another excellent option is to spend a few days at the campsites on the shores of the magnificent Lake Suviana. The lake is about 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Porretta Terme, from where two of these four tours depart.

This Collection can be enjoyed almost all year round. In spring the Apennines are a riot of scents; in summer they offer a pleasant and refreshing shelter from the sultriness of the plains; while in autumn the foliage offers simply breathtaking colours. In colder periods, we recommend you check the weather forecast to make sure that there’s no risk of finding snow at high altitudes. After all, these Tours sometimes reach an altitude of more than 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). Also, keep an eye on rainfall, you may encounter a lot of mud in some sections after significant downpours.

We employed a gravel bike with generous tyres and light gear ratios to tackle these routes, which consist of a mix of dirt roads, singletrack and minor – mostly traffic-free – roads. Of course, we are in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, which are characterised by narrow valleys, steep slopes and dense forests criss-crossed by steep roads and uneven trails. For this reason, there are those who might be more comfortable with a mountain bike. The choice is yours.

To find out more about the Strade Montane project, visit strademontane.it/en/home-eng and follow us on Instagram @strademontane.

Happy Apennines!