The Piccola Cassia, recently rediscovered and made accessible again, retraces the stretch of the Apennines that the Romans already used to reach the central Po Valley, climbing from Pistoia toward Modena and Bologna. In the Early Middle Ages it became a Lombard road and later one of the many routes leading to Rome, joining the Via Francigena.

Walking it southward (toward Rome) is a fascinating journey, rich in historical and religious landmarks (the Abbey of Nonantola, the Rocca of Bazzano, the Abbey of Monteveglio, the Castle of Serravalle and S. Apollinare, Badia, Santa Lucia and the Parish Church of Roffeno, Bombiana, Rocca Corneta, Fanano and many other historic towns and villages). The route is also characterized by a particularly interesting rural and natural landscape: from the fertile centuriated plains, to hills with gullies and vineyards, to the austere forests and the wide meadows of the Apennine ridge.

By travelling this path slowly, one can have an important cultural experience, a deep spiritual experience and, not least, a delightful gastronomic experience: this is the land of Parmigiano Reggiano, typical cured meats from Modena and Bologna, Pignoletto wine, and many mountain specialties that are still little known.

The information on this portal comes from the official Piccola Cassia website https://piccolacassia.it/ and is presented here in an accessible format also for people with visual disabilities, thanks to the work carried out within the European project “AMIGOS” on behalf of the Metropolitan City of Bologna