From Tuscany to Emilia-Romagna across the Apennines - Cycling Escape

From Florence, there are two options to reach the Lands of Romagna.

The first crosses the Casentino Forests National Park and climbs up to the Tre Faggi Pass which marks the regional border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. Passing through the Premilcuore Waterfalls, the road continues up to Castrocaro Terme, famous for its natural Spas, before reaching Faenza.

The second option passes through the ancient and beautiful Borgo San Lorenzo which dates back to the Etruscan civilization before heading to the Colla di Casaglia Pass. Along the way it crosses the so-called Gothic Line Territories, the last defensive bastion of the Third Reich during WWII. Trenches and fortifications remain as testimonials to this dark side of human history.

After crossing the medieval town of Brisighella the route ends in the beautiful Faenza, a city dating back to the Roman era and particularly developed between the Renaissance and the Baroque age. Faenza is also known as the city of the Majolica Ceramics, and where the word Faience originates.

Today there are three loop rides around Faenza. They all include the Senio Valley, a unique geological Natural Park which lays claim to the longest chalk mountain relief in Italy which has made the region a UNESCO World Heritage.

After the route crosses Brisighella, a very well-preserved medieval town spectacularly built atop three hills, the long and medium continue on to Marradi and pass the sturdy walls of  Riolo Terme, a roman town known for its thermal waters, before heading back to Faenza.

Leaving Faenza along the Roman Via Emilia for Bologna, a short detour takes in the medieval Village of Dozza considered one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Italy".

Passing Castel San Pietro Terme the route starts climbing up along the spectacular Calanchi ridges, a geomorphological phenomenon similar to the American Badlands. After a quick descent into Val di Zena, the route climbs up again to the Contrafforte Pliocenico, the largest Natural Park in the region and ends in Sasso Marconi, a quiet village a few km away from Bologna that is also the birthplace of Guglielmo Marconi, 1909 Nobel Prize winner for Physics, creator of the first Telegraph and the father of Wireless Communications.

From Sasso Marconi, the route of this day follows the Reno Valley up to Riola di Vergato, where we can admire the sumptuous and eclectic Rocchetta Mattei castle, an architectural oddity built in the mid-19th century.  After climbing through the towns of  Camugnano and Vigo and admiring the stellar views to be had from the top,  a small detour leads to La Scola, a wonderful 14th-century village known for its 700-year-old Cypress trees.

The route descends through Grizzana Morandi and the  Val di Setta before returning to Sasso Marconi.

After a last amazing breakfast, is time to say arrivederci to the beautiful lands of the champions and find out who will get the yellow jersey in France. Aurevoir!