Frassati Trail in Emilia-Romagna (Short Loop A + Long Loop B)

This itinerary was followed on May 22, 2026, and all subsequent observations and considerations apply fully only to that day.

In the following report, the term “guide” refers to *L’ITALIA DEI SENTIERI FRASSATI* by Antonello Sica and Dante Colli.

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Short Loop of the Frassati Trail in Emilia-Romagna (Clockwise)

From the Fontana Moneta Shelter (or Casa Primo Peroni), continue following the trail markers in the direction of the “FONTE” arrow; shortly afterward, you’ll reach the fork leading to the spring, which lies just off the Frassati Trail.

I reached it anyway via a short descent toward the bed of the Sintria Stream, but found it in “rather unsightly” condition—that is, half-hidden by a wall of stinging nettles, with barbed wire and unsightly plastic pipes.

Back on the Frassati Trail, I immediately realized that finding my way wasn’t a problem thanks to the abundance and precision of the trail markers, and after the first section of the trail, I turned onto a narrow path (still unpaved) that leads beneath Monte Toncone.

Just before the ascent to Monte Toncone, turn left onto an initial descent running alongside the fences of a large private hunting reserve.

You’ll come to a sharp right-hand hairpin turn where you must leave the straight path, and you’ll easily reach the area known as Pian di Volpone: here is the fork separating the short loop from the long loop.

I turned onto the short loop and, heading mostly downhill, reached the junction for the short detour to the Church of Saints Simon and Jude in the village of Presiola.

From there, continuing along very wide paths, I completed the loop all the way to Fontana Moneta.

In conclusion, it’s an easy loop that can easily be completed within the 3 hours indicated by the guidebook and the signage at the starting point.

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Long Loop (B) of the Frassati Trail in Emilia-Romagna, clockwise

When I returned to the Fontana Moneta Refuge (or Casa Primo Peroni) after completing the short loop, I found a group of people who had just arrived and had opened the refuge to stay there for the weekend.

I asked if they could open the church dedicated to the “Madonna di Fontanamoneta” for me to visit, and they did so using the keys kept inside the refuge.

Then I set off again on the long “b” loop, following the section shared with the short “a” loop until the fork in the trail.

Immediately after the fork at Pian di Volpone, a long stretch of beautiful, hilly trail begins through varied woodland, leading onto a narrow dirt road that descends among chestnut trees to a bridge over the Sintria Stream.

After the bridge, the trail continues uphill toward Fornazzano, where you cross the road in front of the Church of San Michele.

Then the trail continues, with a few wide sections through meadows, until reaching another stretch of trail that leads to the ruins of Fornazzano Castle, “surrounded” by the woods.

Beyond the ruins, the trail remains scenic all the way to the final wide dirt road, which leads to Ca’ Malanca and the Museum of the Resistance in about 600 meters.

From Ca’ Malanca, head back to where the trail joins the final wide dirt road, and continue for less than 100 meters to the start of CAI 505, with signs for “CROCE DANIELE,” where you’ll find a shrine depicting Pier Giorgio Frassati and a box containing the guestbook for the Frassati Trail of Emilia-Romagna.

The trail is pleasant all the way to Croce Daniele, and, passing by the Croce Daniele Restaurant, you’ll emerge in front of the small church, which is open today.

There is no plaque or inscription indicating the church’s name, but inside there is a statuette of Saint Macarius and a stone slab with engraved inscriptions referring to Saint Anne and Saint Macarius.

From Croce Daniele, continue along an easy, unpaved road to Ca’ Fontecchio, then along narrower roads and trails until you reach the entrance to a private property.

Here, there is a sign warning of “ROAMING DOGS” and advising cyclists to dismount and proceed on foot.

Immediately afterward, the route takes a sharp descent down to the crossing of the Sintria Stream, which takes place beneath a beautiful little waterfall.

The guidebook mentions a chain set up to help cross the waterfall, but the trail markers I saw lead to the crossing at its base.

After crossing the Sintria Stream—without getting your feet wet—the first part of the ascent is a bit winding and marked by many red-and-white construction ribbons (all labeled “SF b”) wrapped tightly around tree trunks.

A section of the trail passes through what today looked like a large clearing (or small-scale deforestation) of shrubs and stumps.

After one last short, steep climb, the trail rejoins the easy final section shared with the a-corto loop.