THE NEW VIA DEI BRENTATORI

From Piazza Maggiore in Bologna to the Rocca in Bazzano, surrounded by nature and history on the Brentatori trail: Succede solo a Bologna launches a new route through the Bolognese hills starting in the summer of 2024 to rediscover this ancient professional guild.

A gift to the territory from Succede solo a Bologna to further enhance the historical-artistic and natural riches of the municipalities crossed by the trail, stunning attractions to be admired and rediscovered while hiking exclusively on foot.

The route involves three days of walking for a total of approximately 50km, crossing five municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Bologna: Bologna, Casalecchio di Reno, Monte San Pietro, Zola Predosa, and Valsamoggia.

The project – conceived by Succede solo a Bologna in collaboration with the municipalities of Casalecchio, Monte San Pietro, Valsamoggia, and Zola Predosa – unites the city center of Bologna with the Rocca dei Bentivoglio in Bazzano, linking the past and the present of the Compagnia dell’Arte dei Brentatori. The departure and end points are far from random: the first historic headquarters of the Brentatori stood in Via de’ Pignattari, next to the Basilica of San Petronio, while the Rocca in Bazzano is linked to the Compagnia dell’Arte dei Brentatori as the current headquarters in Valsamoggia. 

Starting from the 13th century, the Via dei Brentatori was originally used as a path for transporting wine across the hills between Zola Predosa and Monteveglio. In this new version, created in collaboration with the Bologna branch of the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano), the route is extended to include the territories of Bologna and Casalecchio di Reno.