DAY 41 - SASSO MARCONI to BOLOGNA - 31 May 2026

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For the first time,  we shared our breakfast buffet with a group of 12 walkers (all going the other way). We soon learnt that you don't sit back,  walkers are hungry and want to eat quickly and leave!

After breakfast we left in bright sunshine to rejoin the Via. We started off on the road then walked through fields,  noting the ripening wheat and poppies. We crossed the Vizzano suspension bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. There were lots of footprints in the dirt beneath, probably indicating it is a popular swimming spot.

The path took us near the river and we had several glimpses of it. We shared the path with cyclists and walkers - we counted 163 walkers we believe were on the Via degli Dei. The path entered the woods and there were many alternate paths that people had made to avoid the mud.

Eventually we came out at a green park where there were lots of people out enjoying the Sunday sunshine.  There were two groups training their dogs.  We made a small detour into Casalecchio di Reno for gelato... then a bar for sparkling mineral water... then a pasticceria for a sandwich for lunch.  They didn't have any so we had to have pastries instead. The gelato and pastries had fruit and nuts, so it wasn't so unhealthy...

We soon burned it off toiling up a dirt trail. At the base we saw a cave which the villagers used as shelter from bombing in WWII. There are bats there now.

At the top, we found the beautiful Santuario Madonna di San Luca, with lots of tourists.  After a peek inside,  we started to descend the almost 4km of porticoes that connect San Luca to Bologna city centre and the Neptune Fountain,  where our Via degli Dei finished. We received the last stamps in our credentials and collected the testimoniums.

For dinner, we made sure to try the tagliatelle al ragu (the original spaghetti bolognaise).

Rural scene shortly after leaving Sasso Marconi 
Hay
This morning's path bordered on a vegetable garden
The Basilica of San Luca, where we were headed before the descent into Bologna 
Crossing the Vizzano bridge with a group of cyclists
The Vizzano bridge
Australian long-distance walker working hard to take a photo of some poppies among a field of wheat 
Some poppies among a field of wheat
A plaque and explanatory signboard marking the killing of several locals in reprisal for the killing of 2 German soldiers during thé German retreat in 1944.
Following the red and white signs through the forest
Reno River
A bit of climbing on our last day on the Via Degli Dei 
Checking the way ahead in a grassy meadow
Gelato and almond pastries in Casalecchio 
Memorial to more WWII Nazi victims
Almost the last uphill on the Via Degli Dei 
Almost at San Luca Basilica
We found lots of other tourists up at the Basilica di San Luca
A long series of porticos took us down to Bologna
More portico action
In Bologna, we made our way to the Statue of Neptune,  the official ending point of the Via Degli Dei from Florence

We organised the last stamp in our credentials, and received a Testimonium for completing the Via Degli Day

Spaghetti Bolognaise for dinner
Bits and pieces
Birds
Day 41 - Map

Day:                               41
Distance:                      22.83 km
Walking time:               4 hrs 59 mins
Elevation gain:             317 metres
Cumulative distance:  798.16 km

Comments

  1. VLN1 June 2026 at 00:15

    Are you having a rest day in Bologna? Somewhere I’ve wanted to visit one day. Looking forward to your photos. I too had Spag Bol for dinner last night, LOL, yours looked better than mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barkers1 June 2026 at 06:10

      Yes, great place for a rest day, plenty to see and do here. We visited the laundromat and supermarket yesterday, so we could visit more interesting places today!

      Delete
  2. Anonymous1 June 2026 at 00:36

    Today’s birds: Little Egret, European Collared Dove, Hooded Crow, Common Wood Pigeon

    ReplyDelete
  3. Barkers1 June 2026 at 06:10

    Excellent, thanks Murray!

    ReplyDelete

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