Information
The Via Mater Dei is a spiritual and naturalistic trail of about 157 km that connects Bologna to the Bolognese Apennines, crossing medium-altitude ridges and landscapes of great beauty. The route connects the city to numerous municipalities in the Apennines and is dedicated to Marian shrines, places of profound devotion, history and local identity, such as the Santuario of Monte delle Formiche, Madonna dei Boschi, Madonna dei Fornelli, Boccadirio, Santa Maria della Serra and Montovolo.
Walking along the Via Mater Dei, you rediscover an authentic relationship with nature and with yourself: woods, valleys, historic villages and Apennine panoramas accompany the pilgrim in an experience of slowness, reflection and inner renewal.
Stages and important notices
The Via Mater Dei is divided into 7 stages that gradually lead from the city of Bologna to the Bolognese Apennines, crossing panoramic ridges, woods, valleys and historic villages.
- Stage 1 (Bologna – Rastignano): currently impassable due to landslide and mudslide works. We recommend starting the walk from Rastignano.
- Stage 5: This stage is divided into several sections (5A and 5B) and includes fords and ditches; in case of rain, there are alternative routes on asphalt, which are safer but on busy roads. This stage should therefore be planned carefully according to weather conditions.
It is a journey suitable for those seeking a profound experience, where the external journey also becomes an inner journey.
Find out more at: outdoor365.it
On the portal, you can also find:
● a list of accessible routes
● an interactive map of the routes
map Stages
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1
Bologna - Rastignano ATTENTION! Work is currently underway due to landslides and mudslides, making it impossible to use the first stage at this time.
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2
Rastignano - Zena
- Lenght : 20.4 km
- Difference in level: +760m / -705m
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3
Zena - Loiano
- Lenght : 20.5 km
- Difference in level: +1.059m / -555m
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4
Loiano - Madonna dei Fornelli
- Lenght : 25.3 km
- Difference in level: +921m / -855m
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5
Madonna dei Fornelli - Bruscoli
- Lenght : 13.9 km
- Difference in level: +381m / -419m
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6
Bruscoli - Baragazza
- Lenght : 10.1 km ( su sentiero); 11.1 km (su asfalto)
- Difference in level: +390m / -470m (sentiero); +245m / -300m (asfalto)
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7
Baragazza - Ripoli
- Lenght : 25.2 km
- Difference in level: +810m / -950m
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8
Ripoli - Riola
- Lenght : 22.5 km
- Difference in level: +730m / -1.000m
bar_chart Technical Info
- Km: 157 km
- Stages: 7
- Municipalities: 8
- Regions: 1
Terrain type:
The trail alternates between paved roads, footpaths and dirt roads.
The information on this portal comes from the official Via Mater Dei website and is reproduced here in an accessible format, including for people with visual impairments. The content was developed as part of the European AMIGOS project on behalf of the Metropolitan City of Bologna.
