27. Santa Sofia – Bagno di Romagna

Challenging stage, which crosses the Apennine counter ridge between the Bidente and Savio valleys. You cross woods and meadows, with many paths and cartways. The area is cultivated with forage, grain, with various livestock farms, often in the wild.

After crossing the Bidente river in the center of S.Sofia, go up towards Mortano and take the SP 77 for Spinello. Wherever it is possible, one leaves the provincial road to take paths, country roads, cart tracks, scrubbing tracks, as long as not to travel on the asphalt. (cyclists continue on the SP 77) Arrived in Raggio (in case of rain it is advisable to follow the SP 77) after the old cemetery you go up through the fields, until you reach the La Nocina farmhouse, which has an agreement with the VRG, where you he can refresh himself and also lodge (if he doesn’t stop in S.Sofia). Then continue to Sant’Uberto, where there is a farmhouse built on the ruins of an ancient Augustinian convent. Then you reach Gamberini, a residential village with a restaurant, bar and public fountain: it is the last possibility of replenishing water before San Piero in Bagno. To avoid the SP 26 and its traffic, just before the spring, take the uphill road of the Gamberini Village (cyclists can continue on the SP 26 up to San Piero in Bagno). The route goes through the woods on a mule track, now rediscovered, which was already known as “via romea” by the locals. After the Terrazza sul Parco farmhouse, go down the SP26 at the monument to the fallen of the Carnaio massacre. At the next crossroads, take another secondary road towards Rio Petroso (cyclists stay on the SP26 up to San Piero in Bagno). You pass by the farmhouse of Monte Salvetti, the small agglomeration, Paganico, complete with a church. Be careful to close the gates of pastures and cultivated fields. Then, on forest roads and various cart tracks, having forded the stream, we find the Castle and above all the Hermitage of Corzano, with a bewitching peace. To admire the church. The Il Faro di Corzano Association has reconstructed the ancient mule track that descends to San Piero in Bagno. After a cycle path along the SS 71, it connects San Piero with Bagno di Romagna, a stopover point.