Triassic Chalks

Place:

42035 Castelnovo Ne Monti

Description:

These are very ancient plasters, the oldest in the Apennines, dating back to over 200 million years ago, with cavities, sinkholes, crystals of all shapes and sizes, situations south of the Pietra di Bismantova and in a stretch of about 10 km along the Valle del Secchia, between the Rosso, Carù, Merlo, la Pianellina and Pradale mountains, on the border between the municipalities of Busana, Castelnovo ne 'Monti and Villa Minozzo. The naturalistic and landscape value of the area is high, in particular for the presence of the ancient rocks and for the examples of karst morphology. The particular naturalistic richness is completed with the presence of the Secchia river and the wood which partly includes the slopes of the surrounding hills. This natural environment offers a particularly favorable habitat for various plant and animal species, and today in this area it is possible to find the "Naturalistic Path of the Triassic Gypsum" created by the CAI, with the aim of making the territory, flora and fauna known it developed in it.

How to get there:

Accessibility:
From Castelnovo you get to Gatta with the SS 63 and then with the SS 9 and then you continue up to the location "Poiano Springs" on a gravel road next to the Secchia river. Or you got to the location called Pianello with the SP 108 Castelnovo ne' Monti, Bondolo, Carù

Tourist Area:

Tourist Area
Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Tosco-emiliano

Geographic Area:

Geographic Area
Apennines

Additional notes:

Additional information:
Excursions: the visit starts from Ponte del Pianello, from where it descends along the gravely shore of the river, in the heart of the gypsum valley. From here it goes into the woods, where you can admire the characteristics of the flora and the vegetation and you will visit an old "metato", a building which in the past was used to desiccate chestnuts. Walking once again, you will reach the mouth of a carsic cave, the "Tanone Grande della Gacciolina", one of the most important grottos in the area.
The excursion continues with the climb to the village of Sologno, the visit can end here, with a brief walk in the most charming part of the village, or continue with the climb to Monti Pianellina (851 m), from the old peak of which you can admire a wide view of the valley.
From the mount you then descend to the Fonti di Poiano, abundant springs known for their "saline" water (sulfate carbonate calcium soda)

Municipality:

CASTELNOVO NE' MONTI
Piazza Gramsci, 1, 42035 Castelnovo ne' Monti (RE)
0522 610111, 0522 810947
urp@comune.castelnovo-nemonti.re.it
www.comune.castelnovo-nemonti.re.it

Last update: December 12, 2023