Nature and trails in Romagna
Romagna is not just beaches: within an hour's drive of the sea there are ancient Unesco forests, a gypsum ridge full of caves, waterfalls, lakes and lagoons with flamingos. Here are 11 parks and reserves and the finest trails to discover them.
- Apennines and forests
- Hills, gypsum and caves
- Sea, delta and pine forests
The coloured areas are the park boundaries, the lines the trails: they come from OpenStreetMap. Before you set off, download the track or the map from the park's official website.
Apennines and forests
Ancient beech woods, waterfalls and lakes on the ridge between Romagna, Tuscany and the Marche.
Photo: Marcogligio, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsParco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi
Santa Sofia, Bagno di Romagna, Premilcuore
The national park astride the ridge between Romagna and Tuscany, among the largest and oldest forests in Europe. On the Romagna side lies Sasso Fratino, Italy's first strict nature reserve (1959), a Unesco site since 2017 with the ancient beech forests: it cannot be visited, but the trails around it cross woods just as old, such as the forests of Campigna and La Lama. In autumn you hear the red deer rut.
In the park: Grande Escursione Appenninica, tappa 6
Photo: Pederzoli Valter, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsCascata dell'Acquacheta
San Benedetto in Alpe
Above San Benedetto in Alpe the Acquacheta stream drops more than 70 metres down a stepped rock face: it is the waterfall Dante recalls in canto XVI of the Inferno. You can only get there on foot, on trail 407; above the falls lies the Piana dei Romiti, with the ruins of an old hamlet. It is at its best in spring, when there is plenty of water.
In the park: Sentiero 407 della cascata dell'Acquacheta
Photo: Albarubescens, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsLago di Ridracoli
Santa Sofia, Bagno di Romagna
A lake among the woods of the Foreste Casentinesi park, at about 557 metres, created by the dam finished in the 1980s that brings drinking water to much of Romagna, down to the coast. You walk up to the dam, visit IDRO, the water ecomuseum, and in spring and summer you sail the lake on the electric boat or by canoe.
In the park: Sentiero Natura di Ridracoli
Photo: Paolo Perticara, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsParco del Sasso Simone e Simoncello
Carpegna, Pennabilli, Montecopiolo
On the border between Romagna, the Marche and Tuscany: two great flat-topped rocks, Sasso Simone and Simoncello, and Monte Carpegna, 1,415 metres, the summit of the park, where the Marecchia, Conca and Foglia valleys divide. Beech and oak woods and pastures crossed by trails. It is an inter-regional park of Emilia-Romagna and the Marche.
Hills, gypsum and caves
The Unesco gypsum rocks and the caves you visit with a guide.
Photo: Dadonene89, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsParco della Vena del Gesso Romagnola
Brisighella, Riolo Terme, Casola Valsenio, Borgo Tossignano
The longest and most imposing gypsum ridge in Italy: 25 km of silver-grey rock between the Sillaro valley and Brisighella, full of sinkholes, blind valleys and caves. Since 2023 it has been a Unesco site together with the other gypsum karst of the northern Apennines. With the park guides you visit the Tanaccia cave and the Re Tiberio cave; the highest point is Monte Mauro, 515 metres.
In the park: Sentiero 511 Luigi Rava Alta Via dei Parchi, tappa 16
Photo: Rita Ostrovskyj, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsRiserva naturale di Onferno
Gemmano
On the hills of Gemmano, inland from Riccione and Cattolica: a gypsum cave that is home to the largest bat colony in Emilia-Romagna. It can only be visited with the reserve guides and stays closed in winter, so as not to disturb the hibernating bats. Next to it is a small natural history museum.
Photo: Patafisik, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsParco dei Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa
San Lazzaro di Savena, Ozzano dell'Emilia
At the gates of Bologna, gypsum hills and badlands with sinkholes, swallow holes and caves: since 2023 they have been a Unesco site together with the Vena del Gesso. With a guide you go inside the Spipola cave. You can also come by train, to the stations of San Lazzaro di Savena and Ozzano dell'Emilia.
Sea, delta and pine forests
Lagoons, salt works, historic pine forests and a cliff on the sea, a stone's throw from the beach.
Photo: Vanni Lazzari, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsParco del Delta del Po
Comacchio, Ravenna, Cervia
The most important wetland in Italy: brackish lagoons, reed beds, historic pine forests, dunes and salt pans between Comacchio, Ravenna and Cervia. Since 2015 it has been a Unesco biosphere reserve. The Comacchio lagoons are home to colonies of pink flamingos and hundreds of bird species; you explore it on foot, by bike and by boat.
Photo: Terragio67, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsSalina di Cervia
Cervia
The northernmost salt works in Italy: 827 hectares and more than 50 basins inside the Po Delta Park, where the sweet salt of Cervia is made, a sea salt without the bitter chlorides. It is a nature reserve: many birds live and nest here, pink flamingos among them. Guided tours start from the visitor centre.
Photo: Bultro, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsPinete e oasi di Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna has two historic pine forests: San Vitale to the north, more than 1,000 hectares planted by the monks of the abbey, and Classe to the south, the pine forest Dante recalls in the Purgatorio. Next to San Vitale lies Punte Alberete, one of the last flooded forests of southern Europe, loved by birdwatchers. Entry is free, on foot and by bike.
Photo: Settimio caroli, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsParco del Monte San Bartolo
Pesaro, Gabicce Mare
Between Pesaro and Gabicce Mare the hill drops into the sea in a spectacular cliff, after many kilometres of low sandy coast. The Strada Panoramica crosses the park and the villages of Fiorenzuola di Focara and Casteldimezzo, with the sea always in view. It is an important stopover for migrating birds.
In the park: Sentiero 151 del San Bartolo
The finest trails
Waymarked trails of the Italian Alpine Club and of the parks, with the track on the map. Length, climb and times are those given by the CAI.
Sentiero 407 della cascata dell'Acquacheta
San Benedetto in Alpe → I Romiti
- 4.4 km
- Climb 290 m
- 1:30 hours
- Difficulty E, hiking
The classic path to the waterfall: it starts in San Benedetto in Alpe and climbs the stream valley through the woods to I Romiti, above the falls. You return the same way.
Sentiero Natura di Ridracoli
Ridracoli · Loop
- 3.5 km
- Climb 100 m
- 2:00 hours
A short, easy loop of the park around the hamlet of Ridracoli, made to get to know the forest and its animals: fine for children too.
Grande Escursione Appenninica, tappa 6
Passo la Calla → Passo del Muraglione
- 15.5 km
A stage of the Grande Escursione Appenninica on the ridge between Romagna and Tuscany, from Passo la Calla to Passo del Muraglione, below Monte Falco and Monte Falterona, the highest peaks of the park. You need to be fit and to have a lift at the end.
Sentiero 511 Luigi Rava
Borgo Rivola → Brisighella
- 14.6 km
- Climb 1.194 m
- 6:30 hours
- Difficulty EE, for experienced hikers
It crosses the Vena del Gesso between Borgo Rivola, in the Senio valley, and Brisighella: gypsum rocks, sinkholes and views over the hills. It is for experienced hikers: some stretches are steep.
Alta Via dei Parchi, tappa 16
Tossignano → Ca' Carnè
- 20.5 km
- Climb 1.180 m
- 8:00 hours
- Difficulty EE, for experienced hikers
The stage of the Alta Via dei Parchi, the long trek across the parks of the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, that runs along the Vena del Gesso from the Santerno valley to the Ca' Carnè refuge, above Brisighella. Long and demanding.
Sentiero 151 del San Bartolo
Pesaro → Gabicce Mare
- 19.3 km
- Difficulty E, hiking
The main trail of the park, crossing it lengthwise from Pesaro to Gabicce Mare, partly along the Strada Panoramica, with the sea always in view.
Before you set off
Check the trail
After the floods and landslides of 2023 and 2024 some Apennine trails are still closed or diverted: check the park's website or ask at the visitor centre.
Shoes, water and weather
Hiking boots, water and something warm even in summer: on the ridge the weather changes fast. Check the forecast the evening before.
Caves with a guide
The caves can only be visited with the park guides, who provide helmet and light. In winter many stay closed for the bats: book ahead.
Ticks and mosquitoes
Long trousers in meadows and woods, and a check in the evening. Near the lagoons and pine forests, at sunset, you need insect repellent.
Respect the park
Stay on the marked trails, keep your dog on a lead, do not pick flowers and take your rubbish home. In an emergency call 112.
Parks and trails checked on 18 October 2026 on the official pages. By bike: the cycle routes · The weather
To the trail, worry-free
Many trails start in one place and end in another. Romagna Transfer takes you to the start of the route and picks you up at the end, with a driver.