Fanano in the Apennines: Hiking, Nature and Culture

Fanano lies at the foot of Monte Cimone and combines mountain scenery, routes for a range of activities and a long tradition of stonework. If you are looking for a hotel in Fanano, choosing the focus of your trip can help narrow down your options: would you like to hike, experience the landscape or explore the town’s history? The choices range from the high moor and protected areas to sculptures, historic buildings and regional cuisine.

Landscape between Monte Cimone and the High Moor

Monte Cimone’s summit reaches 2,165 metres. Fanano’s territory extends across elevations from 600 to 2,165 metres above sea level. The same upper figure therefore refers to two different types of measurement: the summit elevation of Monte Cimone and the maximum elevation within Fanano’s territory.

Much of the area lies within the Alto Appennino Modenese Regional Park. A significant part of the municipality also lies within the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Lago Pratignano is the largest high moor in Emilia-Romagna; at 1,307 metres, it lies well below the summit of Monte Cimone. Fanano thus brings together a mountain summit and a high moor as distinct landscape landmarks.

Hiking, Cycling and Skiing

Fanano has dozens of trails marked by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) for hiking and trekking. The trails cover all difficulty levels. Former trans-Apennine routes and forestry service roads are suitable for mountain biking. These different types of routes offer a range of ways to explore the landscape.

The Monte Cimone ski area is also part of Fanano. It includes 50 kilometres of interconnected slopes, accessible with a single electronic ski pass. The activities therefore offer a range of different options: marked trails for hiking and trekking, former routes and forestry roads for mountain biking, and the ski area’s interconnected network of slopes.

Stone Sculpture and Local History

The Museo all’aperto di Scultura su Pietra comprises more than 230 works created in Fanano since 1983 by artists from all over the world. The tradition of stoneworking in Fanano dates back to antiquity; worked stones with secure dates have been found from Roman times. Ancient artefacts and sculptures created since 1983 are therefore part of a long local tradition of stonework.

Historic buildings also offer tangible points of reference in time. The Torre dell’Orologio, also known as the Torre di San Rocco, has stood in Piazza Marconi since the 17th century and is still wound by hand today. Palazzo Lardi was built in 1340 and features elements of Florentine architecture.

The Via Romea is another historical point of reference. In the early Middle Ages, this route connected Nonantola and Fanano via a network of pilgrim paths. Travellers used this network both on their way to Rome and on their return. Together with the buildings and stone sculptures, it offers a glimpse of the different facets of local history, from the network of pilgrim paths to architecture and art.

Plan Your Journey

You can reach Fanano by intercity bus from the railway stations in Modena and Bologna, either directly or with a change in Vignola or Pavullo, depending on the connection. Check the timetable for your chosen connection before departure.

By car, take the Modena Sud or Bologna Casalecchio motorway exit and travel via Vignola and the Fondovalle Panaro road. From Pistoia and Lucca, the SS 324 leads to Fanano via Porretta Terme. You can therefore plan your journey using the specified road routes, depending on your starting point.

Regional Cuisine

Crescentine, borlenghi and ciacci are part of the mountain cuisine tradition in Apennine towns. The handmade Croccante del Frignano, prepared according to a traditional recipe, is another local speciality. These culinary connections place Fanano within a regional Apennine tradition.

Discover more destinations: Nonantola, Finale Emilia, Casoni, Montefiorino, Vignola, Montagnana, Dogaro, Lama Mocogno.

For the overview of the wider area: Modena.