Verghereto between Monte Fumaiolo and mountain history

Verghereto between elevations and mountain history

Verghereto combines local history, mountain landscapes and tangible routes to create a diverse travel experience. In the Verghereto area, elevations range from around 500 metres in the area of the Para River to 1,400 metres at Monte Fumaiolo. In summer, Verghereto offers opportunities for excursions on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. For your planning, this means a range of options between sightseeing, observing nature and active pursuits, without these interests having to be combined into a single itinerary.

Elevations, waterfall and source of the Tiber

The Balze di Verghereto, Monte Fumaiolo, Ripa della Moia Natura 2000 site covers the wooded northern slopes of Monte Fumaiolo from Alferello to Sant'Alberico. The source of the Tiber is located on the same mountain at an elevation of 1,407 metres. The Cascata dell'Alferello is also known as the Cascata delle Trote and forms a 32-metre-high waterfall just outside Alfero. The Rupe della Moia rock face on Monte Fumaiolo is used for outdoor climbing in summer.

Trails on Monte Fumaiolo

Ripa della Moia can be reached from Verghereto via the road to Poggio Biancarda. At the Stazione Sciistica Fumaiolo-Balze, near the summit of Monte Fumaiolo, there is a 5-kilometre circular trail of moderate difficulty that leads to the sources of the Tiber River. The Stazione also has a ski lift serving three red ski runs.

The condition of the route also plays a role. The route from the Eremo di Sant'Alberico to Balze includes an approximately 800-metre-long uphill mule track with rocky and uneven terrain. The MTB route recommends that less experienced cyclists turn back at the Eremo di Sant'Alberico and return to the car park via approximately 3 kilometres of paved road. From the road to Poggio Biancarda, CAI trail 129 reaches the unstaffed Rifugio Giuseppe, which effectively serves as a bivouac.

Walls, monastery and historic sites

Traces of the old walls and the castle gate can still be seen in the centre of Verghereto. The Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo in Verghereto was founded in 987 at the instigation of San Romualdo. A landslide caused part of the San Michele monastery to collapse in 1371; it was subsequently rebuilt outside the walls of Verghereto.

The Eremo di Sant'Alberico is located at an elevation of 1,147 metres in a deep gorge halfway between Balze and the delle Celle monastery. The Museo storico Casa dell'Eccidio di Tavolicci is located in Tavolicci. Castel d'Alfero is a now-abandoned, well-preserved example of a hamlet that developed from a medieval structure and stands on a marl-sandstone formation above the Alferello stream.

Specialities and festival culture

Tortelli alla lastra are a traditional product of the Verghereto area. Pera cocomerina from Ville di Montecoronaro is recognised as a Slow Food Presidium. The Palio della Bigoncia in Balze is a traditional costume competition held annually on 15 August. Cuisine and festival culture thus complement the themes of nature and history with regional specialities.

Discover more places

Galeata, Dovadola, Cento, Cesena, Tredozio, Selva-Ansaldo, Montepetra and San Vittore.

To the higher-level travel overview: Forlì-Cesena.