{"id":796,"date":"2026-05-12T18:54:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sentierodeiducati.it\/information\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T21:13:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T19:13:58","slug":"information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sentierodeiducati.it\/en\/information\/","title":{"rendered":"Information"},"content":{"rendered":"
\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWhen to go<\/strong><\/span><\/div>
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\r\n\r\nThe Sentiero dei Ducati can be travelled all seasons of the year,\u00a0<\/strong>taking into account possible heavy snowfalls during winter and taking care of avoiding rainy periods and the ones immediately afterwards. In fact, especially in its first stages, the trail crosses vast clayey outcrops, where the path can become very muddy, making walking difficult and tiring and it can be sometimes completely impossible to cycle (\u201csticky\u201d mud that blocks the wheels in the fork). Due to the limited altitude,\u00a0in Summer<\/u>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>high temperatures and humidity can become annoying especially in the initial and final stages, however they can still offer cool evenings and wonderful starry nights. Starting at dawn and resting in some shady shelter during the hottest hours, the trail is certainly enjoyable even in the hottest months, from June to August. The best times to travel the Sentiero dei Ducati are undoubtedly\u00a0Spring and Fall<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>in which nature\u2019s colors, the days\u2019 brightness and their length allow you to fully enjoy the landscapes beauty while the mild temperatures favor the journey. The whole route winds through wide stretches of broad-leaved trees which, therefore, become spectacularly colored in fall, attracting \u201cfoliage<\/em>\u201d lovers.\u00a0Along the way are encountered also many fords, some of which, such as the one on the Liocca stream (immediately after Succiso) or the Mommio stream (between Sassalbo and Casola), can become difficult or impossible in the event of heavy rainfall or melting snow.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Even\u00a0Winter<\/u><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(nowadays sadly very dry and with unseasonable relatively mild temperatures) can offer pleasant walking experiences. Clear and bright days that allow the gaze to wander with a view on one side over the entire Alpine range and on the other up to the Tyrrhenian sea and its islands. The high Apennines in winter offers fascinating atmospheres, with thousands of silvery and bare trunks standing as columns of a nature\u2019s immense cathedral.\u00a0A winter trek must, however, be approached with the needed precautions and the proper equipment, especially in case of ice and snow (sometimes also very abundant), anyway and always paying close attention when traveling the muddy stretches.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nI periodi migliori per percorrere il Sentiero dei Ducati sono senza dubbio in\u00a0Primavera e Autunno<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0quando i colori della natura, la luminosit\u00e0 e la lunghezza delle giornate consentono di godere appieno la bellezza dei paesaggi mentre le temperature miti favoriscono il cammino. Tutto il percorso si snoda attraverso ampie distese di latifoglie che dunque in autunno si colorano in modo spettacolare richiamando gli amanti del \u201cfoliage<\/em>\u201d.\u00a0Lungo il percorso si incontrano anche molti guadi, alcuni dei quali, come quello sul torrente Liocca (subito dopo Succiso) o del torrente Mommio tra Sassalbo e Casola, possono diventare difficoltosi o impossibili in caso di forti precipitazioni o per lo scioglimento delle nevi.<\/em><\/strong>\r\n\r\nAnche l\u2019I<\/strong><\/em>nverno<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(di questi tempi ormai molto secco e con temperature relativamente miti) pu\u00f2 riservare in realt\u00e0 piacevoli esperienze di cammino. Giornate limpide e terse che permettono di spaziare con la vista da un lato sull\u2019intero arco Alpino e dall\u2019altro fino al mare Tirreno e le sue isole.\u00a0L\u2019alto appennino d\u2019inverno regala atmosfere affascinanti, con migliaia di tronchi argentei e spogli a fare da colonne di un\u2019immensa cattedrale della natura.\u00a0Un trekking invernale va tuttavia affrontato con le dovute precauzioni ed il necessario equipaggiamento, soprattutto in caso di ghiaccio e neve (a volte anche molto abbondante) prestando sempre e comunque molta attenzione nel percorrere i tratti fangosi.<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>
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\r\n\r\nThe departure of the Sentiero dei Ducati, traditionally set at the Matildic village of Quattro Castella, can be easily reached on foot, through a beautiful additional stage, or by bicycle (20 km mostly on cycling paths and low-traffic roads), starting from the center of Reggio Emilia, a delightful city full of hidden treasures perfectly connected to the main airports of Northern Italy thanks to the \u201cMediopadana\u201d high-speed railway station, an architectural jewel by the architect Santiago Calatrava.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\r\n

By car:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nthrough the A1 Milano-Roma highway. If coming from North, exit at \u201cTerre di Canossa-Campegine\u201d. If arriving from South, exit at \u201cReggio Emilia\u201d. both cases about 20 km \/ 20 minutes from Quattro Castella (hotel, B&B, bar, pharmacy, shops, ample unattended parking facilities).\r\n

By plane:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nthe nearest airports to Reggio Emilia are Parma (few national flights) and Bologna (international airport). Even those of Milan (Linate, Malpensa, Bergamo-Orio al Serio) and Rome (Fiumicino) are however connected to Reggio by comfortable coach bus or rail service.\r\n

By Train and Coach Bus:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nReggio Emilia can easily be reached by train either taking the traditional line or the faster and more modern High Speed \u200b\u200b(\u201cAlta Velocit\u00e0 \u2013 AV\u201d) line from Bologna or Milan, stopping at the \u201cMediopadana-AV\u201d station. Regular city buses then connect both railway stations to the city center and to the coach bus station, from where daily runs leave for Quattro Castella (around 45 minutes from the city center; around 1.30 from \u201cMediopadana AV\u201d station).\r\n

On foot or by bicycle:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIf you want to start on foot or by bicycle directly from Reggio Emilia, after crossing the pretty historic city center, take the Crostolo stream cycling \/ pedestrian path (which is also\u00a0Via Matildica dal Volto Santo \u2013 CAI path 646<\/strong>) until you reach\u00a0Rivalta<\/strong>\u00a0from where you can connect to Quattro Castella tanks to different alternative routes.\r\n

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By Bicycle<\/h4>\r\n \r\n

Cycling Tour Itinerary: Once in the city of\u00a0Reggio Emilia<\/strong>\u00a0by your own or public means of transport, reach the\u00a0San Pellegrino Bridge<\/strong>\u00a0and from there take the Crostolo stream cycling-pedestrian path (which is also\u00a0Via Matildica dal Volto Santo \u2013 CAI 646 path<\/strong>) until you reach\u00a0Rivalta<\/strong>\u00a0(bars, shops), right near the remains of the eighteenth-century Estense Palace.<\/h4>\r\nContinue on the\u00a0VMVS<\/strong>\u00a0up to the scenic Villa d\u2019Este known as Vasca di Corbelli (park with pond) from which having left VMVS\/CAI 646 take the\u00a0CAI 646A alternative route<\/strong>, and you will first reach\u00a0Boschi<\/strong>\u00a0and then the town of\u00a0Puianello<\/strong>\u00a0(bar, pharmacy, food stores). From\u00a0Puianello<\/strong>, through long stretches of cycling path, continue to\u00a0Montecavolo<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Roncolo<\/strong>, after that you will get to\u00a0Quattro Castella<\/strong>\u00a0Difficulty<\/strong>: TC\u00a0Distance<\/strong>: 20 km\r\n

MTB Alternative route:\u00a0If you want to ride off-road from Puianello<\/strong>, follow the longer and more challenging routes described here in the hiking section. All these routes can be pedaled only when there is no mud.<\/h4>\r\nDifficulty<\/strong>: MC \/ BC with short downhill stretch OC\u00a0Distance<\/strong>: 25 Km\r\n

On Foot<\/h4>\r\n

Main Itinerary:<\/h4>\r\n

Once in the city of\u00a0Reggio Emilia<\/strong>, by your own or public means of transport reach the small town of\u00a0Rivalta<\/strong>\u00a0(bar, pharmacy, food shops; direct connections by SETA Line 5 city bus every 30 minutes, both from Mediopadana station, from Central Station and from Porta Castello).<\/h4>\r\nIn Rivalta, near the remains of the eighteenth-century Estense Palace, you can take the\u00a0Via Matildica dal Volto Santo (path CAI 646)<\/strong>\u00a0to the scenic Villa d\u2019Este or Vasca di Corbelli (park with pond) and then continue to the town of\u00a0Puianello<\/strong>\u00a0(bar, pharmacy, food shops). From Piazza Gramsci in\u00a0Puianello<\/strong>, first follow path 646A and 642G (Mucciatella \u2013 Monte Leone \u2013 C\u00e0 Nuova \u2013\u00a0Salvarano<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Hermitage of San Michele) and then join the path 642F coming from Montecavolo at the locality of Cerro. Follow the first ridge with a splendid view of the Po valley (Pianura Padana) and the Apennines. After passing the Roncolo park and Monte Airone, take path 642D which quickly (20 minutes) leads to\u00a0Quattro Castella<\/strong>\u00a0(hotel, B&B, bar, pharmacy, shops).\u00a0Difficulty<\/strong>: \u201cT\u201d (Touristic) up to Puianello. \u201cE\u201d (Excursion) from Puianello to Quattro Castella.\u00a0Duration<\/strong>: about 4 hours from Rivalta; 3 hours from Puianello.\r\n

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On Foot \u2013 Short Alternative Itinerary<\/h4>\r\nFrom\u00a0Rivalta<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0Puianello<\/strong>, take Via Menozzi (SP21) first by sidewalk and then cycling path to\u00a0Montecavolo<\/strong>\u00a0(bar, pharmacy, food shops) where it crosses Via Firenze. From here, first on Via Giovanni XXXIII then on Via IV Novembre, reach Via XXV Aprile and Via Toscanini (Strada del Cerro) and follow it until the main itinerary. This alternative route, almost all on asphalt, avoids much difference in altitude and very quickly leads to the ridge path that leads to\u00a0Quattro<\/strong>\u00a0Castella<\/strong>.\u00a0Duration<\/strong>: about 3 hours from Rivalta; 2 hours from Puianello.\r\n

On Foot \u2013 Long Alternative Itinerary<\/h4>\r\nIf you want to start on foot directly from the \u201cMediopadana AV\u201d railway station<\/strong>, follow\u00a0Via Matildica dal Volto\u00a0<\/strong>Santo\u00a0(CAI 646)<\/strong>\u00a0which crosses near the East side of the station and follow it to the center of\u00a0Reggio Emilia<\/strong>\u00a0(it is actually a stretch of little interest that can be more suitably traveled by public transport). After crossing the pretty historic city center, then reach the\u00a0San Pellegrino<\/strong>\u00a0bridge<\/strong>\u00a0and from there take the Crostolo stream cycling \/ pedestrian path (which is also\u00a0Via Matildica dal Volto Santo \u2013 CAI path 646<\/strong>) until you reach\u00a0Rivalta<\/strong>\u00a0where you can connect to the main itinerary.\u00a0Duration<\/strong>: approximately 2.5 hours from \u201cMediopadana AV\u201d railway station to Rivalta.\r\n\r\n<\/div>
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\r\n\r\nThe Sentiero dei Ducati is a long trek, of \u201cE\u201d (excursion) difficulty, divided into 11 suggested stages, some of which vary significantly for length and height difference. However, it also lends itself to be interpreted as a more general \u201cdirection for your journey\u201d, with the freedom to travel even just for a few stages, grouping them or breaking them up, according to your own \u201cstyle\u201d of walking. You can then adapt your trek to your own time availability, whether a long weekend, a whole week, or a long vacation.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Some of the Sentiero dei Ducati stages, are reached by public transport (coach buses) that allow you to get back to the departure point (more or less fast and directly, based on the number of changes). We suggest, though, to be aware of low frequency service and to carefully check schedules which can vary depending on the season of the year. In particular, the towns and villages of\u00a0Ciano D\u2019Enza<\/strong>,\u00a0Vetto<\/strong>,\u00a0Castagneto<\/strong>,\u00a0Andrella<\/strong>,\u00a0Miscoso<\/strong>,\u00a0Succiso<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0Passo del Cerreto<\/strong>\u00a0can become possible final destinations for walkers who, having less time available, plan an early return to the starting point, rather than arriving up to Sarzana. In the\u00a0Useful Section<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0Links and Contacts<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0of this site, the contact details of the public bus companies are provided, as well as that of some private transport agencies that provide taxi \/ minibus service and coach hire (for groups). We also highlight that the Sentiero dei Ducati is literally \u201cimmersed\u201d in a wider\u00a0CAI trail network<\/strong>\u00a0(only in the Reggio Emilia province more than 1,200 km of trails, all marked and mapped) which allows hikers with adequate experience to design rewarding\u00a0ring paths<\/strong>, where exploring the surrounding territories, equally rich in historical and naturalistic features. This long crossing from the Po valley to the Tyrrhenian sea can so be turned into a series of shorter excursions, to be enjoyed even on simple weekends.\u00a0We suggest then, that you carefully design your journey, before leaving taking advantage of the rich information and links contained on this website, also taking into considerations the exciting features of the territory surrounding the Sentiero dei Ducati.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nIn altre sezioni di questa pagina vengono forniti i recapiti delle Autolinee pubbliche e inoltre quello di alcune agenzie di trasporto private che erogano servizio di taxi\/minibus e noleggio pullman (per gruppi).\r\n\r\nSi segnala inoltre che Il Sentiero dei Ducati \u00e8 letteralmente \u201cimmerso\u201d in una pi\u00f9 ampia\u00a0rete sentieristica del CAI<\/strong>\u00a0(solo nel tratto reggiano oltre 1200 km di sentieri, tutti segnati e cartografati) che consente all\u2019escursionista con adeguata esperienza di disegnare appaganti\u00a0percorsi ad anello<\/strong>, esplorando cos\u00ec anche i territori circostanti, altrettanto ricchi di emergenze storiche e naturalistiche. Trasformando cos\u00ec questa lunga traversata dalla Pianura Padana al mare Tirreno anche in una serie di pi\u00f9 brevi escursioni, da godersi anche in semplici fine settimana.\r\n\r\nTi suggeriamo quindi di progettare con cura il tuo viaggio, prima di partire, sfruttando le ricche informazioni e i link contenuti in questo sito Web, prendendo anche in considerazione le interessanti caratteristiche del territorio che circonda il Sentiero dei Ducati.<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>
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\r\n\r\nYou have covered all the stages of the Sentiero dei Ducati Path and you have come to Sarzana (or Luni), perhaps tired, but certainly happy for the extraordinary experience just had. How can you go back to pick up your car, parked in Quattro Castella or Reggio Emilia?<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Well, if you have reached Sarzana there are no big problems. Sarzana is in fact well connected with Reggio Emilia through numerous daily runs of Regional and Regional Fast trains of the State Railways. With a few Euros and a maximum of 3 hours of travel (including train changes in Vezzano Ligure or Pontremoli and then in Parma or Fidenza) you will magically find yourself at the starting point \u2026 after 11 days of walking!\u00a0If, instead, you have chosen to reach\u00a0the archaeological area of Luni<\/strong>\u00a0(Via Appia 9, 19034 Ortonovo- SP) there are various possibilities to end the trip and return home:\r\n