Pievepelago: Lago Santo, Hiking Trails and Culture

Pievepelago lies in the heart of the Parco Regionale del Frignano and combines impressive mountain scenery with distinctive cultural and natural experiences. Lago Santo, a glacial lake below Monte Giovo, lies at an altitude of 1,501 metres and is the largest lake in the Apennines. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Pievepelago will find a place where excursions into the landscape, historical discoveries and a range of activities come together to create a varied trip.

Lakes, forests and trails for active days

Pievepelago has numerous hiking trails as well as forests of chestnut, beech and conifer trees. A clear example is the “Attraversando gli antichi ponti” hiking trail, which starts and ends in Pievepelago and is 9.3 kilometres long. The trail can therefore be included as a specific option in the day’s planning without tying accommodation or excursion plans to an unspecified walking time.

Another route leads from the shores of Lago Santo along the easy mule track marked 523 around Monte Giovo and into the glacial valley of Lago Baccio. For orientation around the lake, there is an information point on the road from Pievepelago to the Lago Santo car park. Visitors can find general information about the area, brochures and special maps there.

Other interests can also be accommodated: No-kill fishing is practised in the waters of the Scoltenna near the town, while Pievepelago also offers orienteering courses with federation maps. In Sant’Anna Pelago, within the municipality of Pievepelago, 8 kilometres of illuminated cross-country ski trails run close to the settlement. Families or adults travelling together can therefore choose different activity focuses for individual days.

Bridges, a mummy collection and flower carpets

Pievepelago’s cultural heritage includes the Ponte della Fola. The stone bridge is of Romanesque origin, was probably built in the late Middle Ages and has two arches. It is the only known example of this type of bridge in Emilia. It therefore offers an unusual historical point of interest for travellers who want to discover not only the landscape but also architectural history during their stay.

In Roccapelago, the Museo delle Mummie is arranged across three rooms that begin at the crypt. A different scene characterises the traditional Infiorata del Corpus Domini in Pievepelago: the flower carpets fill 200 metres of Via Tamburù in the centre. Individual artistic works can be up to 20 metres long. These varied impressions make the choice of location interesting if you would like to combine days in nature with cultural discoveries.

The right base for planning your trip

When choosing your accommodation, you can first consider which part of Pievepelago is most important for your trip: the hiking trail that starts and ends in the town, the mountain landscape around Lago Santo, historical sites or additional activities such as orienteering and no-kill fishing. For arrival by public transport, bus route 800 connects Modena with Pievepelago on the Modena–Maranello–Pavullo–Pievepelago–Abetone route. This connection is a specific factor when planning your journey by public transport.

If you would like to compare other places for your trip planning in addition to Pievepelago, you can also consider Carpi, Ravarino, Pozza, Fontanaluccia, Bastiglia, Casa Marchetti, Montecreto and San Donnino.

For the higher-level travel overview: Modena.