... ascend Bismantova and Cacume
with feet alone, but here i had to fly;
    Dante Alighieri (Purgatory, IV, 26)

We begin our special with the words of the great poet to demonstrate how much the Mount Bismantova strikes the mind of the observers.

Its overhanging rock face stands out in sharp relief against the gentle slopes of the Reggio Apennines.

At the foot of the mount a Benedictine hermitage built in 17th century on the ruins of a little church consecrated to Our Saviour.

The landscape is magnificent: from here you can get a bird’s eye view of the Apennines, from those of Bologna to those of Piacenza.
After having admired the hermitage and the looming walls, for complete view you should go to the Ginepreto meadows where you could also visit the little church of S. Apollinare dating back to 1200.

Abit of history:
The first settlements go back to 1550-1400 BC.
Occupied by the Etruscans and the Ligures between 6th and 4th century BC.
Maybe in 1st century BC the Romans built here a Castrum, the Castrum Bismantion, as a defense against these populations.
Now it is the destination of hikers and alpinists; the first ascent is attributed to Carlo Voltolini, who climbed the Pietra of Bismantova in 1922.

For more info:
www.parcoappennino.it
wikipedia: Pietra di Bismantova
eremo di Bismantova