Via del Fantini

Luigi Fantini was an important scholar of the Zena Valley, a fascinating area just a stone's throw from Bologna. Fantini, also known as the "Apennine researcher," was born in Val di Zena itself, at Farneto, in 1895. During his life he was involved in multifaceted studies, from geology (he described the Farneto cave, the Spipola sinkhole and the calanqueous formations of the valley) to local history (we recall his important photographic documentation "Ancient buildings of the Bolognese mountains") to paleontology. Also important is his collection of "botroidi," peculiar sandy-rock formations, now on display at the Tazzola Museum.

The Via del Fantini was created in 2021 precisely to commemorate the work of this important scholar and, of course, to give walkers and cyclists a chance to enjoy the historical and naturalistic emergencies of the Zena Valley. The route runs about 50 km between San Lazzaro and San Benedetto del Querceto, which can be covered in two or three days; alternatively, it is possible to make interesting loop treks within each stage. We start from the Donini Museum in San Lazzaro, dedicated to prehistory, and continue to the Farneto Cave and then walk along the ridges of the calanchi, the peculiar rocky hills that characterize the first section of the Via del Fantini. You will then reach Gorgognano (and the "whale of the Zena Valley"), Zena Castle, Monte delle Formiche (a stop at the Botroidi Museum is not to be missed), until you reach Mount Bibele where you can visit the archaeological area that preserves the remains of an ancient Etruscan-Celtic settlement. The Via del Fantini can be traveled on foot or by bicycle, a perfect route for those who wish to admire varied landscapes without neglecting local culture and history.