Val Ceno is the perfect destination for either a relaxing or action-packed stay. It offers culture, history and typical cuisine in beautiful natural surroundings, home to a huge range of flora and fauna as well as domestic animals on the farms that pepper the landscape.
Nature is the star of the valley, with mountains, uplands and forests where you can enjoy a host of outdoor activities. You are likely to meet the special native breed of horse, the Bardigiano, that populates the mountain pastures. There are even several activities linked to these horses, including sports, trekking and hippotherapy.
The waterways offer beautiful experiences, with their waterfalls and geological phenomena that dominate the landscapes, particularly the red Diaspro Rosso marble around the Castle of Bardi and the uplands of Lama Mount. It is still possible to enjoy nature in the autumn and winter months, with walks in woods steeped in seasonal colours. This is when porcini mushrooms appear in certain areas, such as Mount Ragola, or delicious chestnuts in Luneto. This is the perfect time of year to warm up with tasty traditional soups, pastas and dumpling dishes and local cheeses.
Val Ceno has a rich cultural heritage, with the Castles of Bardi and Varano (part of the Castelli del Ducato network), religious architecture and medieval dry-stone walls separating meadows from woodland.
Culture and nature meet innovation and speed in Varano, the “City of Motors”, with the Dallara Academy and Riccardo Paletti racetrack or “Autodromo”.
Several of the valley’s attractions have become famous over the years, such as the peaks of Monte Carameto. The beauty of Val Ceno lies in its landscapes – breath taking and evocative whether viewed as an expanse from a hight or in fascinating close-up – and the magic of its festivals and local events, highlighting yet another reason to visit: the sense of community in the valleys.
