Text and photos by Martina Pavoni
There are hiking trails that cross well-known destinations, and others that surprise you precisely because they arrive quietly, without fanfare. The Cammino Tesori del Reno, in the Bolognese Apennines, undoubtedly belongs to the latter. It is a route that does not shout about its beauty but reveals it gradually, step by step, through silent forests, charming villages, open ridgelines and genuine encounters.
As an AKU Ambassador, I have learned that hiking is not simply a physical challenge or a destination to reach. It is a way of experiencing a landscape, listening to it and truly connecting with it. That is exactly what I found along the Cammino Tesori del Reno: a rare balance of nature, history, culture and local identity.
This circular route covers approximately 85–95 km, divided into six stages through the Bolognese Apennines, linking the villages of Vergato, Grizzana Morandi and Castel d’Aiano. More than 80% of the trail follows CAI-marked paths, crossing an authentic corner of the Apennines that remains untouched by mass tourism.
The route can be completed over six days on foot or explored by bike, but there is one piece of advice above all: take your time. Here, time moves at a different pace.
The journey begins in Vergato, which is easily reached by train from Bologna. From the very first steps, the character of the trail becomes clear: well-marked CAI paths and the feeling of travelling through real places, cared for by people who still have a deep connection with the mountains.
One of the things that impressed me most was the constant interplay between nature and culture. Within just a few hours, the scenery shifts from chestnut forests and streams to medieval villages, ancient parish churches, hidden caves and places that seem straight out of a fairy tale.
Rocchetta Mattei, for example, suddenly appears among the trees, its visionary architecture blending different styles into an extraordinary building that reflects the imagination of a man far ahead of his time.
Walking here also means passing through places shaped by history. Along certain sections of the trail, you encounter sites connected with the Gothic Line, landscapes that preserve important memories of the Second World War. It is impossible to walk through them without stopping to reflect.
Perhaps that is one of the Cammino Tesori del Reno’s greatest strengths: it does not simply take you from one place to another. It continually invites you to observe, understand and slow down.
From a hiking perspective, the route is accessible to most walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. There is no shortage of elevation gain, but every climb is rewarded with sweeping views across the Apennines and a remarkable variety of landscapes that makes each stage feel different from the last.
It is the kind of trail that can still surprise even experienced long-distance hikers.
