from Grizzana Morandi to Castiglione dei Pepoli

km: 22
Difference in altitude +/-: +1100 m/ - 1050 m
Time: 7 h

From the town hall, continue towards Stanco, a 14th century village and continue on the pedestrian avenue that runs alongside the monument in memory of the 11 victims of 22 July 1944. Once you reach the crossroads for Tavernola, continue and arrive in the locality of S. Abramo where path 100 enters a chestnut forest and meadows up to the outskirts of Collina, an ancient medieval village.

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Traveling the Via della Lana e della Seta also allows small detours to discover unique places. Among these we find Tavernola and other small hamlets rich in timeless charm: the 14th century Stanco di Sotto, Castellaro (14th century), with a tower, which was the seat of the municipality of Tavernola; finally the small hamlet of Valle also of 14th century origin.
Observing the buildings of the small village it is possible to see numerous architraves and worked stones, the result of the art of stonecutters. The activity of working stone is in fact historically well-rooted in these areas, where there were several quarries dedicated to the extraction of sandstone, perhaps the most typically Apennine building material. (from https://appenninobolognese.cittametropolitana.bo.it/it/luoghi/borghi/tavernola)

You go up and skirt the embankment of Palazzo Vannini and, following a gravel road, you reach the top of the ridge and then go down and cross the provincial road 73. You go up towards Boscalto and a crossroads of roads that go down towards the Rio Vezzano valley and the center of Burzanella.
Here we cross the Via Mater Dei that goes up towards Montovolo and Monte Vigese

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The Via Mater Dei is a suggestive route that touches the main Marian sanctuaries of the Bolognese Apennines, winding for almost 160 km through woods, paths and fascinating historic villages. The trek has a particular spiritual connotation but fascinates all walkers for its particular characteristics and themes touched upon, from sacred art to the truly surprising natural and landscape context.

We continue towards the Matelle locality and once we reach La Latra, past two centuries-old oaks, we arrive at a crossroads with a majesty. We take a dirt road towards La Rocca and, once we have crossed the Lagacciolo stream, we pass some buildings and enter Burzanella. Once we reach the Bel Poggio locality, we continue climbing on a dirt road to cross the 039 in the Il Logo locality.
In Bel Poggio it is possible to learn about a truly touching family history, memory and recollection. It is the story that her own witness tells to many walkers: Viviana Passini, a child in 1944 when she witnessed the murder of her relatives and residents of nearby houses by the Nazis. Today Viviana's memory is also preserved in the short film "LA MICCIA" made by the Terra Nostra association.

After leaving behind a votive shrine, you enter a coppice up to 930 meters of Mount Fontanavidola and Cà Terre Rosse. Take the 031 for Castiglione dei Pepoli and pass the locality I Muri. After the asphalt road, take a dirt road that crosses agricultural areas between streams and ditches. From Cà delle Vigne, you pass the Brasimone stream which here also feeds Lake Santa Maria.
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The artificial basin of Santa Maria is a truly perfect place to rest. Between equipped areas and small paths, it is really suitable for a stop before setting off again!

To get to Castiglione, continue straight and go along the entire lakeside of Santa Maria where you can stop for a break and start climbing along the CAI 031 path to the Ca’ di Lenzi location and then continue towards Castiglione. You come out on the provincial road near the cemetery of the South African soldiers.
The South African Cemetery is a place full of history and solemnity. It houses the largest number of South African fallen on Italian soil, 502 soldiers rest in the cemetery, including: 401 South Africans, 99 British and 2 officers of the Indian unit 4/13th Frontier Force Rifles. After the war, numerous relatives of the soldiers buried in the cemetery turned to the Municipality of Castiglione asking to lay a flower or to have a photograph of the tomb of their loved one. Wishes were always granted as evidenced by the correspondence kept in the Municipal Archives.
Here turn right towards the center of the town is a town that is about 500 meters away. Going along Via San Lorenzo you arrive in Piazza della Libertà where you can admire the Palazzo dei Pepoli now the town hall.

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Palazzo Pepoli overlooks the main square of the town, built towards the end of the fifteenth century and expanded between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. It owes its name to the family that controlled these lands from 1340 to 1796 and maintained its function over time. Its majestic impact has always clarified what the center of the town was. Home to the municipal offices, today it houses a small museum on the ground floor regarding the city that you can visit.