Crinali26 - History, Gaggio Montano

A walk through the municipality of Gaggio Montano, accompanied by an archaeologist, to discover the history of the area and the archaeological excavations currently underway in Santa Maria Villiana, where the concert by DIEGO and FABIO RESTA – Echoes of Wind and Strings between the East and the Balkans – will take place.

Meeting point in Santa Maria Villiana in the car park by the “Meridiana dei Liberatori Brasiliani” > link to location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VNgj3YzKrUZ9evsQ9

Trekking details:

- Length: 4km

- Elevation gain: +250m / -30m

Description: Archaeological trekking in the Gaggio Montano area, from Santa Maria Villiana to the summit of Monte della Croce. The trail winds through woods, paths and dirt tracks, opening up at times to splendid views of the Marano stream and the Reno Valley. Once we reach the summit at 917 metres, we will see the white cross, the mountain’s symbol, and, if the day is clear, we can enjoy a 360° view stretching from Corno alle Scale to the Alto Reno ridge, descending to the Bologna plain. Just below the summit, archaeological excavations by the University of Bologna have unearthed dwellings, monumental fortifications and artefacts of great value dating back to the Late Bronze Age (12th–11th centuries BC). These include weapons, bronze ornaments, pottery, tools and amber beads, which attest to the site’s central role in trans-Apennine trade routes. After a period of abandonment, the settlement was reoccupied during the Etruscan period (4th–3rd centuries BC), before being definitively abandoned. A route of great natural, scenic and historical interest.

At the end of the concert, a short walk back to the starting point:

- Length: 2.5 km

- Elevation gain: -220 m

- Approx. 1 hour’s walk

Scheduled times: from 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm

6.00 pm: concert at the Santa Maria excavations