Febbio on Monte Cusna: Ski Area, Hiking Trails and History

Febbio at the Foot of Monte Cusna

Febbio is located at the foot of Monte Cusna in the upper Secchiello Valley. Monte Cusna reaches 2,121 metres and is the highest peak in the Apennines of Reggio Emilia. Downhill ski runs, marked trails, cycling routes, the ancient Via Maremmana and the Chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire are among the specific destinations in Febbio.

Skiing, Cycling Routes and Excursions

The Febbio ski area offers 20 kilometres of downhill ski runs. In winter, skiing is one of the activities available there; in summer, the same ski area offers downhill and cycling routes. The area around Febbio also offers opportunities for excursions on foot, by mountain bike and on horseback in every season. When planning a trip, the difference between the seasonal routes and the excursions available year-round is a specific factor to consider.

Hiking Trails Around Rescadore

The Vallestrina e Passone hiking trail begins and ends in Rescadore di Febbio at an elevation of 1,150 metres. It is signposted with CAI markers 609, 611, 607 and 615. The route therefore has its starting and endpoint at 1,150 metres, while Monte Cusna reaches 2,121 metres.

Trail 617 leads from Peschiera Zamboni to the summit of Monte Cusna. The Percorso Natura Valle del Secchiello is marked SP on the hiking map of the Emilia-Romagna region and runs entirely along CAI Trail 609. It ends in Rescadore di Febbio near the weather station. On Trail 617, the summit is at the end; on the Percorso Natura Valle del Secchiello, Rescadore near the weather station is the endpoint.

High-Altitude Destinations in Rescadore

From Rescadore, a two-section chairlift reaches the Cusna ridge at an elevation of more than 2,063 metres. Also located in Rescadore, at 1,100 metres at the foot of Monte Cusna, is the Febbio “Pierino Zambonini” Astronomical Observatory. At more than 2,063 metres, the Cusna ridge is higher than the observatory site, which is located at 1,100 metres.

Church and Historical Traces

The Chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire in Febbio is part of the town’s history. The church was completely rebuilt for the first time around 1664. The former church and bell tower were irretrievably destroyed in 1920 by a landslide triggered by an earthquake. The present-day Chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire was rebuilt in 1933 within one hundred days. The exterior can be visited; to visit the interior, the parish priest must be contacted.

The Ancient Via Maremmana

The ancient Via Maremmana led from the villages of Febbio through the Passo delle Radici into the Garfagnana. In the Febbio area, the original paving of the Via Maremmana is still visible. For those interested in culture, the visible paving remains of the Via Maremmana provide a second historical point of reference alongside the Chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire. Both traces are located in the Febbio area.

Other Places

Rubiera, Villa Minozzo, Praticello, Casalgrande, San Donnino Di Liguria, Borzano, Montecatini, Montecchio Emilia

For the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Emilia.