A new 107 km track between the Nure Valley and the Arda Valley, in some areas of great naturalistic, historical and archaeological interest.
 
The circuit begins from the medieval Vigoleno village (360 m. from sea level), which overlooks the Stirone Regional River Park.
You immediately penetrate southward the Province heart, in a mountain environment where the shrubs cover three quarters of the area and give very old specimen fruit chestnut trees.
In opener areas, broom and juniper paint different tones on a harsh ground.
Climbing up, the route presents a tract of beeches that becomes a universe of shrubs with white beeches, hazelnut-trees, laburnum and honeysuckles.
You can also find evergreen Scots pine-trees and little fir-trees areas.
The brushwood, especially around Teruzzi (1010 m. from sea level) and Cassimoreno (860 m. from sea level), is famous for its mushrooms production and for its ground plants: you can find ferns, sanicle, violet limodore, lilies and wonderful orchids.
Along nearly all the paths you can meet wild boars, badgers, fallow deers, foxes, squirrels, buzzards, woodpeckers and sparrowhawks: coveted preys for people fond of naturalistic pictures.
Past the characteristic mountain villages you have to get over three passes, Pellizzone (1040 m.), Linguadà (930 m.) and Pianazze (980 m.), then after crossing a chestnut trees area you get to Groppallo, before the climb towards Passo Santa Franca, one of the highest points of this circuit.
After Prato Barbieri you enter Mount Moria Park, a large mountain land of more than 10 sq.m., extended on the ridge Arda-Chero, between the mounts Moria and Croce dei Segni. The Mountain cabin, open all year, is a point of reference and a rest area for this route.
This area is a green oasis with a well preserved natural environment, rich in spontaneous and characteristic flora, ideal for walks and excursions. For more information: Adventure Academy.
Then you can visit Veleia Romana archaeological site and finally get to a northeast oriented path, where the route crosses the protected areas of the Piacenziano Natural Geological Reserve.
Once you come back to Vigoleno you meet the Stirone Regional River Park, founded in 1988 to protect its ecosystem and fossils of the Tertiary and Quaternary Period.
The Park covers 2000 hectares and extends from the beginning of the alluvial stream fan, near Fidenza, until Vigoleno, that is the whole Stirone river course.
Beyond the interest for natural environment, agricultural hilly landscape and rich birdlife, special importance has the extraordinary "canyon" formed by the river and composed by clay stratifications rich in marine fossils.
 
By mountain bike, but on foot or riding as well…
This path may be a good training for excursionists and equitourists.
According to your equipment and the time you have at your disposal, you can choose different solutions and particular paths.
The two big equitourism routes of the Piacenza’s Apennines (the former in the Nure Valley and the latter in the eastern part of the Arda Valley) indicate Mount Moria Park as the area of connection between the two paths.
 
For further information please visit the following websites:
www.grandeippovia.it
www.provincia.pc.it/turismo
www.escursioniemiliaromagna.com
www.emiliaitaly.com
 
The route is crossed by a dense net of paths traced by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI).
For further information: www.caipiacenza.net - Piacenza’s Apennines Paths
 
Useful numbers and contacts:
Firewood Operating Centre
167 841051
 
Provincial Police
Tel. 0039 0523 795357
 
Firemen
115
 
First aid
www.118er.it
118
 
Emilia Romagna Alpine Rescue
800 848088