Romagna offers wonderful natural landscapes and protected areas ideal to visit in spring.One of these is the regional park of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola, located in the Romagna hinterland between Imola and Faenza, a protected natural area of over two thousand hectares that stands out among the excellence of the northern Apennines as the only mountain range consisting almost exclusively of plaster.Accessing the park is an unparalleled, unprecedented and fascinating geological and landscape adventure. The Vena del Gesso is cut perpendicularly by three main river valleys (Santerno, Senio, Sintria), plus a fourth that laps it to the east (Lamone): valleys deeply carved by the erosion of rivers, rich in caves, crevices and chasms that create a spectacular karst system, a must for lovers of caving.But the park is enjoyable by everyone, even non-experts. There are dozens of nature trails that can be easily covered on foot, which enjoy breathtaking landscapes within an almost untouched nature.What we propose is an approach to the park. Two or three unmissable stops before putting on your boots and venturing into the Vena del Gesso Romagnola. Always remember to hike safely and never venture into the caves without the guidance of an expert.
It is impossible to miss Faenza before venturing along the Vena del Gesso. This beautiful lowland town is located on the Via Emilia, between the sea and the hills, halfway between Bologna and Rimini. Lordship of the Manfredi family, Faenza was an important political and cultural meeting point between Romagna and Tuscany and was embellished with monuments of undoubted charm. Let yourself be amazed by Piazza del Popolo, bordered by arcades overlooked by the Palazzo del Podestà and the Town Hall. Visit the fifteenth-century Cathedral, which houses numerous works of art from the Renaissance period.
Curiosity
Do not forget to take a trip to the Monumental Fountain, the pride of one of the first Romagna cities to equip itself - in the 17th century - with a public aqueduct. Finally, Faenza is a city of ceramics. The first shops were built starting from the year 1000 due to the abundance of clayey soils. The techniques of the artisans were enriched with Byzantine, Arab and Oriental influences, to the point of developing the modern character of white majolica, now appreciated all over the world.
From Faenza, continuing towards the hills along the provincial road 302, you cannot miss Brisighella, a delightful village on the slopes of the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines. The ancient center of medieval origin stands out for its vocation for hospitality and sustainable tourism.
Brisighella has been included by the Touring Club among the orange flags of Romagna, which is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The town is located at the foot of gypsum pinnacles on which rest the 15th century Rocca Manfrediana, the so-called Clock Tower and the 18th century Monticino Sanctuary. One of the urban peculiarities of Brisighella is that it was built on the evaporite outcrops of the eastern edge of the Vena del Gesso. For lovers of geology, there is also a spectacular urban itinerary on gypsum starting from piazzetta Porta Gabalo and allowing you to understand the profound relationship between the inhabitants and the subsoil.
Brisighella is the perfect point from which to access the Park. Here you will really understand the landscape mosaic that makes up Romagna.
You will observe how the gentle profile of the hills is furrowed by a spectacular silvery gray ridge: it is the longest and the longest and most imposing chalky relief in Italy, it extends for 25 km and has an average width of one and a half kilometers. Geological peculiarities that naturally also have an impact on the wines produced in this area, characterized by a surprising minerality and freshness.
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