DanteInOro Bike Tour

An itinerary on the footsteps of Dante Alighieri, who was hosted by the Da Polenta family, originally from Bertinoro. The tour starts from Ravenna, a crucial location for Dante's life and work, famous all over the world for the gold of its mosaics.
Just outside Ravenna, one cycles surrounded by nature on banks and gravel roads which therefore make this tour suitable for gravel bikes.

After leaving the plain, the route climbs up first to Polenta and then to Bertinoro, turning point of the itinerary. In this two locations, only 7 km away from one another, the bikers will find various testimonies of Dante's presence which will actually invite them for a break before returning to Ravenna.

Useful Information

Length: 90 km

elevation difference: 630 m

Start: Stazione FFSS Ravenna - 44.41889, 12.20809

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Altimetry

Points of interest

Ravenna Unesco City

Ravenna preserves the greatest mosaic heritage dating back between the 5th and the 6th century aD, decorating Early Christian and Byzantine monuments acknowledged Unesco World Heritage.

Zone of silence and Dante's Tomb

The Dante Zone is a portion of the historic centre of Ravenna whose main focus is Dante’s Tomb – the small neoclassical temple designed by Camillo Morigia in 1780-1781.

Ronco riverside path

Along the bankway following the river, one can enjoy the rich and wide Ravenna countryside, with its fruit trees and vegetable crops.

Mambelli Diary

The story of the Caseificio begins in the countryside of Bertinoro. Here Nonna Elsa used to make ricotta with her cows' milk and enriched with the thermal waters coming from the Fonti della Fratta hot springs.

Parish church of San Donato di Polenta

The fame of the church of San Donato is due to Carducci, who often visited the hills of Bertinoro. In the poem "La chiesa di Polenta" the poet recalls the hospitality received by Dante Alighieri from Guido Da Polenta.

Bertinoro Fortress

Built before the year one thousand and magnificently restored, this beautiful fortress dominates the town and hosts nowadays a University Residential Centre and an authentic cultural jewel: the Interreligious Museum.

Palazzo Ordelaffi

The palace, which has been a witness to the historical events of the town for over seven centuries., was restored in the '30s and has kept its medieval charm intact. It dominates the main town square and serves nowadays as Town Hall.

Ring Column

Erected in the 13th century and located in the heart of the medieval town, the Ring Column is the real symbol of the local hospitality tradition. Every year the community gathers around it to celebrate the great Hospitality Festival.

Pieve San Cassiano in Decimo (Campiano)

One of the most beautiful historical churches located in the Romagna countryside, known for an interesting insertion in the walls of polychrome ceramics of Byzantine manufacture