Belvedere Itinerary
How to get there
By car: from the Modena Sud highway exit to in the direction of Modena. At San Donnino you find Vivinatura, the starting point for this itinerary. It is possible to go in two directions: Marano or Modena.
From the Modena Nord highway exit take the beltway toward Bologna, then take Via Emilia Est to the industrial zone, particularly Stradello Romano.
By bus: from the square in front of the train station, take bus no. 1 to Stradello Romano. The itinerary starts here.
The itinerary starts at Modena Est, in the Stradello Romano area and continues 2 kilometres Southeast (toward Bologna). This brings us to the S. Ambrogio bridge where we cross Via Emilia.
Continue 7 km to cross over the highway near San Donnino. From the bridge continue until you enter Guerro nel Panaro.
At this point a footbridge is planned for pedestrians and bicycles: until it is built you can ford the stream. Continue another 7 km to reach the Spilamberto bridge. Proceed 8 km toward Vignola, pass the railway bridge and then reach the Vignola bridge.
There is a parking lot near the bridge and from here, take the underpass to the left side of the river. Then, after having passed beside the pool area, continue to the Marano bridge.
The route opens in the area of the Fluviale Park and continues on to the Casona Bridge. Here the Natura/sole itinerary ends and the Belvedere tract to Montese begins.
Naturalistic features of note along the itinerary
- In the Modena - San Donnino tract: "I Meandri", evident traces of the ancient winding of the river as it entered the heart of the plains.
- Near the S. Anna lakes in the Town of San Cesario (the area is reached by an alternate route starting from the S. Ambrogio Bridge and following the right side of the river): "Panaro river flood plain" the wetland area of great environmental interest.
- In the S. Donnino-Spilamberto tract there are important archeological finds: a Neolithic sepulcher and in the town of Villa Corticella a Roman area well.
- In the Spilamberto-Vignola tract: the skeleton of an elephant "The Savignano Elephant" was found in Bocchirolo. This skeleton is now on display in the Civic Center of Savignano sul Panaro. Moreover, in the area beside the Vignola bridge the fossil remains of a TAPIR and a not better identified marine mammal have been found.
- In the Vignola-Marano tract: The fluvial terraces, terraces formed by the Panaro River during various phases of erosion of deposits and sediments.
- In the Marano-Casona tract: toward the end of the route is the Cince nature center, a didactic-environmental tour through erosion furrows and oak groves, of particular note for the bird watching.
Services along the route (Total 33.7 KM)
Equipped rest stops:
- in S. Donnino - Vivinatura
- in Ponte Guerro
- in Guado della Barca (Spilamberto)
- in Treppi della Ruzzola
- in Laghetto dei Ciliegi (Vignola)
- c/o Centro Nuoto of Vignola
- in Doccia (Savignano sul Panaro)
- in Mulino di Bagnara
- c/o Parco Fluviale di Marano (Marano sul Panaro)
Refreshment and rest points:
- in S. Donnino - Vivinatura
- in Laghetto dei Ciliegi (Vignola)
- c/o Centro Nuoto of Vignola
- c/o Parco Fluviale di Marano (Marano sul Panaro)
Parking areas:
- at the beginning of the route c/o Stradello Romano (Modena)
- in S. Donnino - Vivinatura
- in Ponte Guerro
- in Gualdo della Barca (Spilamberto)
- in Treppi della Ruzzola
- c/o Centro Nuoto of Vignola
- in Formica (Savignano sul Panaro)
- in Mulino di Bagnara
- c/o Parco Fluviale di Marano (Marano sul Panaro