Impianto Cavone, Corno alle Scale

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Snow places between Bologna and Modena

Updated on 15 January 2024 From Bologna Welcome

Let's be guided on this itinerary of Promenade Bologna by... 

Luciano Magnani, current President of Consorzio Cimone and the Regional College of Ski Instructors of Emilia Romagna, as well as Honorary President of the National College of Ski Instructors. He served as Director of the Sestola Ski School for 30 years as well as President of the National Ski Instructors' College from 2002 to 2018.


Where can we go in the snow in Bologna?

The tourist offer of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines is extremely rich and consists of 17 winter resorts, 400 kilometres of downhill runs and 5000 km of nature trails. You can go trekking along the Alta Via dei Parchi along the ridge, snowshoe in the woods or stay overnight in the various mountain refuges.

Red Deer , Alto Reno Terme (BO) ©discoverART

Corno alle Scale is a ski resort in the Bolognese Apennines at an altitude of 1944 m, coming with 36 km of panoramic slopes, including the longest slope of almost 3 km named after Alberto Tomba, the greatest Italian skier of all times. The resort is equipped with a snow park, a baby park and a toboggan run, and also offers a safe place for disabled people to practice skiing with qualified instructors. In the locality of Le Malghe, an equipped area for snowboarding and cross-country skiing has reopened, both for experts and beginners.


Corno falls within the territory of Lizzano in Belvedere, a charming winter destination full of history, such as the delubro (temple), mentioned as early as as 553 A.D., the oldest building in the metropolitan territory of Bologna, which, together with the discovery of fragments of flint and terracotta tools at Sboccata dei Bagnadori and Rocca Corneta, bear witness to the passage of primitive men in the area. 


Remaining close to Bologna, in the splendid mediaeval village of Monteacuto delle Alpi, where cars are banned, you can breathe in the air of the past by walking through the alleyways to the pricelessly beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

The village is perched on the mountain ridges and allows you to follow several hiking trails through the woods, including one leading to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Faggio.


And then of course you cannot overlook Porretta Terme, lying on the slopes of Monte della Croce in the municipality of Alto Reno Terme (BO). Known for its ancient thermal baths and the renewed offer of contemporary establishments, the town also offers many cultural highlights, from the Film Festival, to the renowned mural art and the long-awaited music events at the Porretta Soul Festival, a major festival with artists from all over Europe.


Snowy street in Fossato, Porretta Terme (BO) ©discoverART

And what about outside Bologna city?

Modena is home to the largest ski area in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines: Cimone. With over 50 km of slopes, all served by 27 lifts and 6 connections, two new baby parks have been added at Cimoncino and Polle, which, together with the one at Lago della Ninfa, will ensure an even more hospitable service for families and children.

Tracks for all tastes wind along the three sides of the mountain: long and wide, with challenging slopes and more than 600 m of elevation gain for expert skiers, or shorter and easier tracks for leisure skiers.


Mount Cimone. Courtesy Luciano Magnani

The ski slopes of Monte Cimone cover the municipalities of Fanano, Sestola, Montecreto and Riolunato. Skiers will find the first novelty on the Pista Nera Direttissima (Black Run), which has been widened and made completely secure with type A safety nets. Since 2001, Fanano has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club, a prize reserved for touristically significant inland locations, and is the largest municipality in Alto Frignano, with its 90 km of territory, most of which falls within the Regional Park of the Upper Apennines of Modena.

Sky lift Cimoncino Fanano, Modena

And then?

Lago della Ninfa is an ideal destination for everyone, including families. Located at an altitude of 1,500 metres behind Mount Cimone, in Sestola, the venue comes with a 900-metre-long medium-difficulty ski slope served by a high-capacity chairlift which, alongside the school camp service, is an excellent way for everyone to approach winter sports. Equipment hire services and ample parkings for cars and camper vans make it the favourite spot fo lake landscapes enthusiasts not wishing to renounce their home comfort. 


Ski lift at Lago della Ninfa (MO).  Courtesy Luciano Magnani

The first bob run of the Apennines was opened at Passo del Lupo: 700 m of straight sections and curves with a 1200 metres drop. One of Cimone's finest achievements is the ski centre for disabled people, whose services are coordinated by the Silvia Rinaldi Sports Foundation. 


Passo del Lupo (MO). Courtesy Luciano Magnani

Among accessible huts, a courtesy service of wheelchairs, guides and escorts on the slopes, rental of dualskis, mono-skis, snowcarts and microphones for blind skiers ... skiing has never been more accessible!

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