Piccola Cassia MTB

“Piccola Cassia” (little Cassia) is a historical route that retraces the ancient road founded by the Roman colonies in the Po Valley. It continued northwards along the more famous Via Cassia through the mountainous territory between Modena and Bologna.

A route that crosses a landscape ranging from the fertile plains to hills, ravines and vineyards, and then climbs to the dense mountain forests and sprawling meadows of the Apennine ridge.
This demanding route requiring fairly good riding skills and physical fitness starts from the southern gate of the city of Modena and continues along the ridge between the Panaro and Samoggia valleys in the direction of the municipalities of Zocca and Castel d’Aiano, where it enters the Reno river valley. After crossing the Apennines, the Piccola Cassia goes down into Tuscan territory. It then winds through the Ombrone river valley before reaching Pistoia, where it rejoins the Via Cassia leading to Rome.

This is an evocative route, rich in historical and religious heritage (Abbazia di Nonantola, Rocca di Bazzano, Abbazia di Monteveglio, Castello di Serravalle and S. Apollinare, Badia, Santa Lucia and Pieve di Roffeno, Bombiana, Rocca Corneta, Fanano and many other historical villages) and featuring an interesting rural and natural landscape.