SPORT, NATUREAND WELLNESS

AT CORNO ALLE SCALE

As explorers of a little-known paradise,

making the acquaintance of the

Regional Park of Corno alle Scale will

be an exhilarating experience. The Park

extends for five thousand hectares, a

massif which reaches a height of almost

two thousand metres, with lonely

valleys and small villages which emerge

unexpectedly from the thick woodland.

Here, walking the extensive network

of paths which intersect the area, far

away from the noise and confusion, you

can meet with fallow or roe deer, see

golden eagles circling in the sky or, in

the distance, hear the howling of a wolf.

Not only this, Corno alle Scale is also the

ideal habitat for numerous species of rare

and protected plants, such as the delicate

silver geranium, the precious alpine

aquilegia or the striking Turk’s-cap lily.

CORNO ALLE SCALE

STREAMS AND WATERFALLS, STORIES AND LEGENDS,

A FLEETING ENCOUNTER WITH A WOOD DWELLER.

THERE IS A PARADISE WITHIN REACH

WHERE THE ENCHANTMENT OF NATURE

IS REPEATED DAY AFTER DAY, OFFERING

EVER-FRESH STIMULATION TO ITS VISITORS.

The area around Corno alle Scale puts

you in direct contact with nature and

its inhabitants in any season of the year,

off ering you unforgettable moments of

relaxation, enjoyment and folklore. The

many sporting activities the area off ers,

from mountain biking to archery, horse

riding or snowshoe trekking, the flavours

of its excellent cuisine and its tasty local

products and the many opportunities

for relaxation, make Corno alle Scale

a unique and unforgettable holiday

destination, with a clear focus on well-

being and enjoyment. A natural paradise,

within reach, to be experienced at any

time, any season or any age.

The variety and quality of the environment

in this area have made it the ideal

habitat for many animal species.

Walking the pathways of the ridge, you

can frequently hear the whistling cry of

the marmot or see the small entrance

holes to the nests of the snow vole,

while in wooded areas, roe deer, wild

boar and certain predators like the

beech marten, the badger and the fox

are quite common. But the two most

important species are undoubtedly the

wolf and the eagle.

Becoming extinct here at the beginning

of the Sixties, the wolf has recently

returned to these parts, colonising

the entire Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

Another welcome return among the

residents of the Park is the eagle, which

for some years now has returned to

nest in the area; sightings of it are

frequent, especially in summer when it

can be seen circling slowly in the sky, in

search of its prey.

TOWARDS THE UNEXPECTED...

AMIDSTTHE BRANCHES

The most striking aspect in these places

is the vegetation, a continual succession

of arboreal species which envelop

the landscape, forming a palette of a

thousand shades of colour. Starting from

lower down, the area is characterised by

oak and chestnut woods, which give the

landscape a special face. Gaining height,

the beech woods begin to dominate;

these are characterised by trees which

are either very tall and straight or which

cling to inaccessible rocks and crags,

having contorted, almost unnatural,

shapes. Finally, beyond the tree line,

the peak moorland suddenly opens

up, essentially consisting of complex

ecosystems hosting rare plants of

glacial origin. The Corno alle Scale

massif, with its 1945 metres of height,

is the southern European boundary

for the flowering of numerous rare and

protected species, such as the silver

geranium, the gentian and the elegant

alpine aquilegia.

THE EDGE OF THE WOODS REVEALS THE INFINITE

AFTER THE FIRST MOMENT, WHEN THE GAZE

REMAINS DAZZLED BY THE SPLENDOUR

OF THE PEAKS AND THE WOODS,

SMALLER WONDERS ALSO BECOME VISIBLE.

can make a holiday something you

will never forget. For people who love

speed and enjoyment, there are the

slopes dedicated to Alberto Tomba,

on which the great champion from

Bologna took his first skiing “steps”

and which were a fundamental factor

in his world championship successes.

For those who are looking to try

something new and diff erent, there

are numerous ski-mountaineering and

cross-country skiing routes, and the

modern snow park, where you can

try your hand at acrobatic snowboard

manoeuvres. Finally, for people looking

for a little peace and quiet, in the

area around Corno alle Scale you can

immerse yourself in unspoilt nature,

endlessly fascinating, just waiting to

be discovered on long snowshoe treks,

in the heart of the woodland which

characterises the area.

CORNO ALLE SCALEFFFOOORR LOOVVEERS OF WWWIIINNNNTTTTEEEERRRR SSSSPPPPOORTS

Corno alle Scale is a large, natural

amphitheatre which fans out between

the 1945 metres of the summit of

the mountain and Lake Scaff aiolo.

Its summit is the starting point for

36 kilometres of slopes of varying

diff iculties, of which 80% are served by

artificial snow equipment, permitting

skiing 150 days a year, no matter how

much or how little snow might fall.

A skiing resort with facilities amongst

the best in the northern Apennines,

offering safe enjoyment to novices

and experts alike.

With its 36 kilometres of slopes of

varying diff iculties, Corno alle Scale

WINTER SPORTS FOR EVERYBODY AND FOR

ALL ABILITY LEVELS, WARM HOSPITALITY,

FUN AND RELAXATION: THIS IS WHAT IS OFFERED

BY CORNO ALLE SCALE, THE SKIING RESORT

SITUATED IN THE HIGHEST AND MOST STRIKING PART

OF THE BOLOGNESE APENNINES, JUST A SHORT

DISTANCE FROM FLORENCE AND BOLOGNA

THE SOFTENED ATMOSPHERE, PURE, SCINTILLATING

EXPANSES OF SNOW, UNSPOILT NATURE. WINTER AT CORNO

ALLE SCALE IS DOMINATED BY THE CLEAR, CRYSTAL BLUE

OF THE SKY AND BY THE PURE WHITENESS OF THE SNOW:

AN EVOCATIVE NATURAL STAGE, IMBUING ALL SNOW

LOVERS WITH VIBRANT ENERGY AND JOIE DE VIVRE.

NOT JUST SKIINGThere is also an alternative way to enjoy the

snow: simply contemplating it.

What could be more relaxing than

sitting in front of a blazing fire with your

favourite hot drink, while outside it is

snowing? Something which might seem an

inconvenience in the city, up here becomes

an opportunity to leave the frenetic pace of

daily life totally behind you. Over and above

the skiing, the area around Corno alle Scale

off ers many alternative opportunities for

people who would also like to explore the

mountains in winter, off ering the possibility

of wonderful excursions with snowshoes

into the heart of the woodland which

characterises the area.

All of this without forgetting the legendary

Emilian hospitality and the many delicious

gastronomic opportunities off ered by the

characteristic local cuisine. At Corno alle

Scale, traditional cuisine is given pride

of place; the pasta is still made using

a chopping board and rolling pin, and

the hotels and numerous characteristic

restaurants in the area off er excellent

pork and game, underbrush fruits,

mountain tarts and sweets and chestnut-

based dishes. Wholesome dishes from a

bygone era which characterise a world

to be discovered and enjoyed, with

that touch of geniality and exuberance

which only Apennine people convey.

CORNO ALLE SCALEBologna Apennines

Nature and wellness in the Bologna Apennineswww.cornoallescale.net

BY CARFrom Bologna: on highway A1 heading for Florence, take the exit for Sasso Marconi.From Florence: on highway A11, take the exit for Pistoia; proceed along superstrada SS64 Porrettana until Silla and then take SS324 for Lizzano.From Modena: on highway A1, take the exit for Modena Sud, then follow the signs for Vignola and the Fondovalle Panaro, at the fork in Fanano, merge intro tre road for Corno alle Scale.

BY TRAINOn the Bologna-Pistoia line, get off at the Porretta Terme station, at 15 km from Corno alle Scale. From the station, hop a bus for Lizzano in Belvedere

BY PLANEThe nearest airports are Bologna, 70 km away, and Florence, 90 km away.

INFORMATION AND RECEPTION OFFICELizzano In Belvedere

Piazza Marconi 6 – 40042 Lizzano in BelvedereTel. e fax 0534.51052 • iat.lizzano@comune.lizzano.bo.it

VidiciaticoVia Marconi 31 – 40042 Vidiciatico

Tel. e fax 0534.53159 • iat.vidiciatico@comune.lizzano.bo.it

Foto di: Giorgio Nini, Davide Palumbo, Vanna Rossi, Daniele Giacobazzi,Archivio Parco, Archivio Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori Appennino Bolognese