7 walking trails near Bologna to discover
Updated on 21 October 2026 From Martina Cavezza
If you have already walked the famous Via degli Dei or the Wool and Silk Road and are looking for new slow adventures, the Bolognese Apennines are home to lesser-known routes full of charm, art and unspoilt nature.
Discover 7 lesser-known walking routes in and around Bologna:
- Alta Via dei Parchi
This is a major hiking route of around 500 km that crosses the northern Apennines and the protected areas of Emilia-Romagna, the Marche and Tuscany. It offers the chance to discover a wide variety of landscapes, from high-altitude lakes to forests, from ridges to rock formations, with numerous examples of history and mountain life. You don’t have to tackle the whole route in one go: many sections can be tackled as multi-day hikes, choosing the stages based on the time you have available and your own experience. For technical details and maps, you can consult the dedicated page on eXtraBO or the Emilia-Romagna regional website.
- Bologna Montana Art Trail (BoM Art)
The perfect trail for anyone looking for an experience that combines hiking with Land Art. This loop of about 100 kilometres crosses the Bolognese municipalities of Loiano, Monghidoro, Monterenzio, Monzuno and San Benedetto Val di Sambro, turning the woods into a true open-air gallery. Along the route, you can admire dozens of artistic installations perfectly integrated into the Apennine landscape, making every stage a visual surprise. It is a versatile itinerary, ideal for art lovers and for anyone wishing to explore the area on foot, by bike or on horseback. For technical details and maps, you can consult the dedicated page on eXtraBO or the official trail website.
- Cammino di Sant'Antonio
This historic itinerary retraces the life of the Saint from Camposampiero, near Padua, to the sanctuary of La Verna, near Arezzo, in twenty-two stages covering a total of 408 km. Its Emilia-Romagna section is one of the most scenic. Starting from Malalbergo, in the Bologna plain, the trail follows the historic Canale Navile, a reminder of the city’s ancient hydraulic system, before climbing towards the Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell’Abbadessa Regional Park, the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Regional Park and the Casentinesi Forests. It is the ideal route for anyone seeking a meditative experience, crossing hermitages surrounded by greenery and small villages where time seems to have stood still. Full information about the route is available on the official Cammino di Sant'Antonio website or on the eXtraBO website.
- Cammino dei Tesori del Reno
The Cammino dei Tesori del Reno is a circular journey starting and ending in Vergato, winding for 100 kilometres and covering 6 walking stages in the heart of the Reno Valley. It is an itinerary that tells the story of local history and mountain traditions, leading walkers to iconic places such as the stone village of La Scola, one of the best-preserved examples of medieval Apennine architecture. There is no shortage of natural wonders either, such as the Labante Caves, famous for their waterfall and travertine formations. Thanks to the availability of e-bike variants, it is also one of the most popular routes for cycle tourism. You can find all the information on the official trail website or by consulting the dedicated page on the eXtraBO website.
- Flaminia Minor
A walking route that follows the course of the ancient Roman road attributed to the consul Gaius Flaminius. The route is still under study and offers the chance to explore places where history and landscape intertwine, from the areas near Bologna to the Apennine and Tuscan regions. Currently, the proposed route passes through the Ozzano dell’Emilia area and the site of the ancient Roman city of Claterna, continuing through ridges, badlands and villages. It is a particularly interesting proposition for those who love archaeology and wish to discover less-travelled routes, as explained in the eXtraBO page on the Flaminia Minor.
- Via del Fantini
The Via del Fantini is a trekking route of about 50 km - divided into four stages - dedicated to Luigi Fantini, the Bolognese researcher who was the first to explore the geological and archaeological secrets of the Zena Valley. This trail, perfect for those who prefer short stages just a few kilometres from Bologna, crosses almost lunar landscapes dominated by gullies and yellow sands. The route includes sites of extraordinary interest, such as the Spipola Cave, the unusual Botroidi Museum in Tazzola and the archaeological area of Monte Bibele, where traces of an ancient Etruscan-Celtic settlement are still visible. It is an excursion that combines a passion for nature with a love of ancient history, as explained on the eXtraBO page about the Via del Fantini or on the official trail website.
- La Via dei Gessi e dei Calanchi
For those who wish to walk through a landscape that is unique in the world, the Via dei Gessi e dei Calanchi is an unmissable choice. This 102-kilometre route connects Bologna and Brisighella in 7 stages, crossing areas recently recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites for their exceptional karst phenomena. The trail winds its way through imposing gypsum cliffs and spectacular gully formations in the Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell’Abbadessa Regional Park and the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Regional Park, passing through enchanting villages such as Dozza, famous for its painted walls, and Brisighella itself, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. To discover the stages and villages along the route, visit the official trail website and the dedicated page on eXtraBO.
A curious explorer with a passion for trekking and photography, I discover the world one step at a time. I have been writing for bolognawelcome.com and editor for extrabo.com since 2022.
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