A bicycle tour from San Giovanni to Crevalcore

This cycle route winds its way through the Persiceta countryside, an area whose history is linked to the interaction between man and nature. The route offers an insight into the evolution of the landscape, from ancient hydraulic works to the founding of historic villages.

A landscape shaped by water

The area is criss-crossed by a dense network of canals, bearing witness to major land reclamation projects dating back to the early 20th century. The Valbona Canal is a notable example of this impressive hydraulic network, which is vital for water management.

In the surrounding countryside, the Roman centuriation – an ancient system of land division – is still visible. This land-use planning, dating back over two thousand years, is evident in the network of ditches and drainage channels that mark the boundaries of the farmland.

History and land ownership

Along the route, you will come across farmhouses and rural dwellings linked to the historic ‘Partecipanza agraria’. This particular form of collective land management originated in the Middle Ages, when the Abbot of Nonantola granted the land to local families in exchange for their upkeep.

As well as monastic orders, noble Bolognese families such as the Pepoli also owned vast tracts of land in the area. A detour along Via Borgofollo leads to the hamlet of Guisa Pepoli, with its 16th-century tower and the small oratory of San Giuseppe.

Arrival in Crevalcore

The route finally leads to Crevalcore, an ancient village founded by Bologna in the 13th century as a military outpost. Its strategic position on the border of the Bolognese territory has shaped its history and architecture, which reflect its past as a garrison town.