If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know by now that I’m an outdoors lover and passionate hiker. So, besides historic and artistic attractions in Bologna and Emilia-Romagna, I often like to point out walks and natural parks that visitors and newcomers can easily enjoy (plus, you’ll work up an appetite for all those foodie delights we’re famous for!).
Bologna is a great city for walkers because, right to the south of the city, you’ll find the hills – i colli bolognesi, which offer many opportunities for outdoor pursuits.
Below are three of my favorite walks in the Bologna hills.
[Please note: this post is not meant to be a step-by-step guide of the walks described. If you decide to try these walks on your own, I strongly recommend you get a hiking map of the area.]
*Don’t want to go it alone? Want to learn interesting tidbits about Bologna as you walk? Book a guided walking tour with me! I’m a certified hiking guide and lead private and group tours in the Bologna hills. Contact me at bolognauncovered@gmail.com. Check my Tours page and follow me on Facebook for dates of group tours.
Top Walks in the Bologna Hills
Trail 904 – from Porta San Mamolo to the Church of San Michele di Gaibola
The walk begins at Porta San Mamolo and ends at the Church of San Michele di Gaibola, deep in the Bolognese hills, passing the beautiful park of Villa Ghigi as well as historic and religious sites, such as the sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte and the Eremo di Ronzano, a hermitage place.
Trail 904 is managed by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI, Club Alpino Italiano). Follow the ‘CAI’ white and red signs.
The starting point, Porta San Mamolo, used to be one of the medieval gates to the city, and was demolished at the beginning of the 20th century; it can be reached on foot from Via D’Azeglio, a street that departs from Piazza Maggiore.
You have to walk on a steep road (Via dell’Osservanza) to reach the 28-hectare Parco di Villa Ghigi, a popular park with the locals for walks and picnics, featuring nice views of the city center.
The Church of San Paolo in Monte (via dell’Osservanza 88) is the first point of interest along the trail; originally built in 1403, it was entirely reconstructed in the 19th century in the Neoclassical style.
As you make your way through the Park of Villa Ghigi, you’ll reach the Eremo di Ronzano (via Gaibola 18), located on top of a hill among oak, chestnut and cypress trees. Dating from the 12th century, it was acquired by the Dominicans in 1475, who embellished the church with frescoes of the Bolognese school of the 1500s and gave it the aspect it has today. This spiritual center with views over the city and the hills is managed today by the Order of the Servi di Maria.
The trail ends at the Church of San Michele di Gaibola, which is thought to date back as far as the 8th century. In the 17th century, as the parish of the area, it exercised administrative control over the churches of the hills.
*Easy walk, 220 meters elevation gain; approx. three hours round trip with stops.
From Villa Spada to the Basilica of San Luca, return by way of the Portico di San Luca
A great walk with great views of the hills and of a Bologna landmark, the Basilica of San Luca. On the way back, descend along the longest portico in the world. *A section of this itinerary is difficult to follow if you’re not familiar with the area.
This walks begins at the entrance to Villa Spada, a neoclassical villa built in the 18th century which has preserved its elegant Italian-style gardens. Its large grassy area above the gardens, once used for farming, turns into the Parco di San Pellegrino, which affords splendid views over Bologna, the surrounding hills and valleys, and even more splendid views over our beloved Basilica of San Luca, for an unusual observation point.
You’ll leave the park to get on the road (via di Casaglia) for the last stretch before you reach the Basilica of San Luca, the most important sanctuary in Bologna, dating to the 12th century. It was enlarged in the 15th century due to its growing importance as a pilgrimage site. Located on a hilltop, Colle della Guardia (279m), the current structure was built between 1723 and 1757.
Descend along the longest arcaded walkway in the world, the 3,8-km Portico di San Luca, until you reach the Arco del Meloncello. You can catch bus 20 to return to the city center, or if you’re still up for walking, continue under the portico until you reach Porta Saragozza – then you’ll be able to say you have walked the longest portico in the world 😉
*Medium difficulty walk, approx. 10 km and 300 meters elevation gain, approx. 4 hours with stops.
Trail 902 – From San Michele in Bosco to Forte Bandiera
The first ‘official’ trail of the Bologna hills, opened in 2010, this trail passes by the classic panoramic viewpoint of San Michele in Bosco, then enters into the hills up the valley of the Aposa creek until it reaches the park of Forte Bandiera.
Starting at Giardino Remo Scoto in via Codivilla, the walk begins uphill to reach the panoramic terrace of the monastic complex of San Michele in Bosco, one of the best viewpoints in Bologna. Peek inside the ancient Church of San Michele in Bosco, which, through the centuries, has served different functions, including military barracks and prison during the Napoleonic invasion, residence of the King of Italy, and seat of the Rizzoli hospital.
Your walk indeed continues through a grand hall inside a section of the hospital, which was once part of the convent built on this site by the Olivetan monks, and now known as the ‘Cannocchiale’ (telescope) for an interesting optical illusion: as you look at the window at the end of the hall and walk away from it, the size of the landmark Torre Asinelli increases. The hall is 162,55 meters long, 5,60 meters large and 8,14 meters high.
The walk continues to Via San Vittore, with some parts on the road and some along trails, up via della Fratta to the intersection with via di Barbiano, until you reach the Park of Forte Bandiera, where large meadows, rows of trees, woods, and blooming flowers invite you for a picnic!
*Easy walk, 250m elevation gain, 3 hours round trip.
*Signage isn’t always clear along the trails. If you decide to try these walks on your own, I strongly recommend you get a hiking map of the area. If you don’t want to worry about losing the way, consider booking a guided tour with me.
Bologna Uncovered 
I’ll will! 😊
I did all the walks : terrific!!!
Very good suggestions!
Bologna is a very beatiful town, especially for those who like to walk in downtown but also around the city
How do you get to Church of San Michele di Gaibola? After erama di renzana the signs just pointed me around in a circle
Sorry you had trouble finding it. From the Eremo di Ronzano, follow signs for San Michele di Gaibola, once you get to the street, Via di Gaibola, turn left, stay on the street and you’ll eventually reach it.
I have discovered your blog just lately but I have already made it my homepage. I am excited there is place (on internet) where I can find information about my surrounding (actually living in Forli) which don’t regard only cities and civilization but also nature. I have brought my backpack here to F. just few days ago so as my trekking shoes and I am planning to try some of the walks mentioned in this article. Would you recommend it also to a solo female hikers? And by any chance – is there a some kind of hiking club in Bologna? I have found only CAI but it looks they are very professional.
Hi Veronika, thank you for your message! I’m glad you’re finding the blog useful and you enjoy my ‘hiking posts’ 🙂 Yes, besides CAI, you could check out Trekking Italia, Bologna section (I’m a member myself), http://www.trekkingitalia.org/bologna. And yes, the walks mentioned in the article are fine even if you’re on your own, just avoid them in the dark. Hope this helps!
Hi Silvia, it’s nice to see someone writing about these nice walks. I discovered them by hit and miss over the last few years during visits to Bologna preparing for longer walks in Europe. I’ve got map ‘01BO’ now! I like doing the round trip following 904 up to Monte Paderno then on 900 to Forte Bandiera then back to town on 902.
Regards Paul
Hi Paul, thank you for leaving a comment! I’m glad you enjoy the walks in the Bologna hills. I’m a passionate walker/trekker too. Which longer walks have you taken in Europe? I do have that 01BO map too!!
Hello Silvia
I started doing long walks after I retired. In 2015 I walked from Piacenza to Rome along the Francigena. I walked the Via degli Dei in March 2016 which was not a good idea due to the deep mud and ice. In autumn 2016 I walked along the Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabrés from Seville to Santiago. My wife and I will be back in BO in April and I’m planning to walk along the Via Romea Germanica from Innsbruck to Rome. I’ve written a daily blog of these walks. The Spanish ones get a lot of hits but the Italian walks are a lot less popular.
https://paulscamino.com
Hi Paul, you’re a passionate walker like me! I did the Via degli Dei too, in late May/June and it was fantastic. I only walked a two-day stretch of the Via Francigena in Emilia-Romagna, but it was mostly flat and on asphalt roads so I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I want to do the Via Romea Nonantolana, and the Via Francigena in Tuscany, and many other walks, or ‘cammini’. Enjoy your next visit to Bologna!!
Ciao Silvia,
My wife and i love to visit bologna. She especially likes the shopping and the food. It gives me lots of time to explore the city and surroungings. I enjoy jogging in giardino margerita and to jog up to san michele in bosco. I have walked and jogged to san lucca from city center. I have the 01B0 map, but it took several attempts to locate the trails, and by the time i did find them i was limited by time to pursue them further.
We will be back in Bologna this October. I would be interested if you plan to do any walks/hikes in october.
Hi Tony, thank you for your message! Yes, it’s not always easy to locate the trails in the hills, on and off the map! I am taking the course to become a professional hiking guide right now, I’ll be done in November and plan to start offering tours then, but let’s definitely be in touch when we get closer to your visit and see if we can organize a walk!
I will be in Bologna in October and I would love to be updated in your walks.
Hi Mim, thank you for your message! I plan to revise my blog so that it contains detailed information about my walks and how you can participate, so please stay tuned!
Thanks Silvia! My wife and I will be doing these walks in October. Your info is great!
Thank you for your nice comment! Let me know if you need any help. Enjoy the walks!!
Hi, I am looking on google maps trying to work out how you got from Parco del San Pellegrino to the Basilica di San Luca by going on via di Casaglia. Can you help!?
It’s tricky if you don’t know the area because there are no marked trails once you get to the Chiesa di Casaglia. You’d need a hiking map of the area, and still, it’s hard to figure out without knowing well the trails. My suggestion is, once you exit Parco del Pellegrino, take Via di Monte Albano and follow it until you get to the Basilica, although you’re on the street, which I don’t especially like. Not too bad car-wise if you go during the week mid-morning, early afternoon. But not ideal.
SUPER frustrating. I tried the Mamolo walk; seems pretty straightforward. I headed out on Via Mamolo and kept walking, maybe for an hour until I eventually wound up at the end of the 29 bus line in a hospital parking lot. A total nightmare.
I’m sorry that you had trouble finding the trail. I’d recommend getting a hiking map of the Bologna hills before venturing out on the trails.
Is it a good place for a 72 year old to visit. Is there a lot of walking involved in the city? Is it hilly when you walk in the city?
Hi Sur, it’s not hilly in the city center. The hills are just south of the city center and perfectly walkable for a 72 year old if you walk regularly at home. Hope this helps!