Loiano: Pineta e non solo!

The route begins on Fondovalle Savena, at the intersection with Via Longagne. From here, continue along the dirt road, passing a recent landslide and then cycling uphill until you reach the SP59. Cross the road and turn onto Via Ca' di Stefano. Continue along a mix of dirt road and meadow until you reach the Church of Bibulano.

Here, turn left and rejoin the paved road on the SP59, following it uphill for about one kilometer. Turn left again, entering the picturesque village of Bibulano di Sopra. Then turn right onto CAI Trail 925. The trail winds uphill through the fields, including a couple of fairly challenging climbs, until you first reach the SS65 della Futa and shortly after, Loiano. Ride along Via Roma and cross through the town center. Just as you exit thetown, right beforethe hospital, turn left onto Via Luigi Pozzi. A final uphill push brings you to the “Sassoni, ” the starting point for the Pineta single tracks , maintained by Bologna Montana Bike Area.

Which descent to take? Well, you’re spoiled for choice, and the combinations are endless, especially given the possibility of linking the upper sections of some trails with the lower sections of others. At the Sassoni, you’ll find a bulletin board listing all the trails and their detailed characteristics (for more information on the trails and their conditions, we recommend visiting www.bolognamontanabikearea.it and the Bologna Montana Bike Area social media channels). For the route, we’ve chosen the “Glen” single track ( intermediate difficulty), which, while not a walk in the park, is the most accessible descent—ideal for getting started on the trails of the Pineta.

All the descents lead to the same point, at the bottom of the Pineta, from where you can quickly reach the village of Sabbioni. From here, you can choose to head back up to Loiano, climbing along the Via Napoleonica or the SS65 della Futa, and then tackle other single-track descents (expect a 250–300 m climb each time), or continue the tour as follows.

From Sabbioni, follow the SS65 toward Bologna for a few hundred meters, then turn left onto Via Panoramica. Ride until you reach the wide meadow at Passo del Dado. Once you reach the top of the clearing, the “Dado” single track ( intermediate difficulty) begins, descending with beautiful views of the Savena Valley and the Apennines. Passing through picturesque rocky sections, you arrive at Anconella.

From here, return to Sabbioni on a paved road that isn’t overly busy. Continue again on the SS65 toward Loiano until you reach the village of S. Antonio, about one kilometer past Sabbioni. After passing a cluster of relatively new houses called Villaggio Rita, the pavement gives way once more to a dirt road and the single track known as“Rita” ( intermediate difficulty). This trail immediately leads through a beautiful lunar landscape, featuring some very distinctive rock formations. A stop is a must to enjoy the setting and the view.

After descending a few slightly technical sections, the route continues along a fast dirt road along the ridge, which we leave to enter a trail through a beautiful forest of holm oaks and chestnut trees. One final crossing of the Rio della Selva brings us quickly to Fondovalle Savena, the starting point of the tour.

This route is NOT marked with specific signage. Please refer to the GPX track.

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