Wandering amongst the planets in Monte San Pietro

The proposed route starts and finishes at the Astronomical Observatory, where we will return at the end of the hike for a packed dinner followed by an introductory session on astronomy and a tour of the facility.

Dinner will take place on the lawn in front of the observatory, approximately from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm, with access to toilet facilities.

The route is considered to be of medium difficulty due to the final climb; it includes a short stretch on a secondary tarmac road and is also suitable for families with children aged 8 and over, provided they are used to walking.
 

Dogs are permitted only on request, provided they do not disturb other participants and remain under the full responsibility of the owner.

The walk, starting and finishing at the Felsina Astronomical Observatory, will follow a section of the Sentiero dei Pianeti (Path of the Planets), inaugurated in May 2025 by the Associazione Astrofili Bolognesi.
 

The path is a detour from the historic route of the Piccola Cassia, an ancient route that linked Nonantola to Pistoia, crossing the Apennines between Modena and Bologna.

Along the route there are several themed stations, each dedicated to a planet or an element of the Solar System. The route runs from Croce delle Pradole to the Observatory and, for this excursion, we will cover a selection of the stops, including: the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, the Asteroid Belt and Uranus.

Planets

Along the way, we will stop at a series of information panels dedicated to the planets of the Solar System, designed to intrigue both adults and children with accessible and engaging content.

Each panel will tell the story of a planet through simple scientific facts, mythological legends and surprising curiosities: we will discover, for example, why Venus is called the ‘Morning Star’ or what makes Saturn so fascinating with its rings.

Some references will also link to the local area: we’ll talk about the great Bolognese astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who studied Saturn and gave his name to the famous division between its rings.

A way to bring together sky and earth, science and storytelling, adding a touch of imagination to the walk.

Full price: € 18

Reduced price (Card Cultura): € 15

Reduced price (ages 6–12): € 9
0–5 years: free

A 50% discount is available for holders of a disability card and one accompanying person.

Bookings for tickets reserved for people with disabilities must be made by emailing extrabo@bolognawelcome.it or by visiting the eXtraBO info point in Piazza del Nettuno.

Technical Details

Elevation gain: +330 m / -340 m

Length: 5.90 km

Difficulty: E (Hiking)

Services included:

• Hike with a qualified hiking guide
• Visit to the Astronomical Observatory – explanations by amateur astronomers with use of telescopes

Meeting point:

AAB “Felsina” Social Observatory, Via Varsellane 12 – Monte San Pietro

Before booking, please bear in mind that:

• The car park at the observatory has a maximum of 20 spaces. To help with organisation, we recommend carpooling
• What to bring: hiking boots with treaded soles or sturdy shoes, rucksack, long hiking trousers, a sweatshirt and jacket (temperatures drop significantly at night compared to daytime, even in summer), water (at least 1.5 litres), a packed dinner (sandwich, energy bars, fruit) and a torch, preferably a head torch, with spare batteries (preferably with a red light).
• Recommended: binoculars, a blanket or sheet to spread on the grass, walking poles.

Refund and changes:

Cancellations with a refund or rebookings are possible up to 48 hours before the start of the activity.

The sale of tourist services is managed by Bologna Welcome Travel Agency