Bolognese Gypsum Regional Park and Abbadessa Badlands: caves, fossils, and lunar landscapes

It is well known that Bologna preserves cultures and traditions that are rare to find in Italy, but just 20 km away lies a territory that seems to belong to another world. In the province of Bologna, in fact, lies the Parco Regionale dei Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa (Bologna Gypsum and Badlands Regional Park), which covers over 5,000 hectares and includes the municipalities of Bologna, San Lazzaro di Savena, Ozzano dell'Emilia, and Pianoro.

The shapes created here are among the most spectacular in northern Italy, with chalky outcrops and karst formations that reflect light like crystals. The park is home to over 150 caves, including the Spipola cave, which is the most accessible and also the most evocative of all. It was discovered in 1932 and is part of the Spipola-Acquafredda-Prete Santo karst system, located in Croara, in the municipality of San Lazzaro di Savena.

It is a real spectacle, an amphitheater of beauty and spectacularly shaped rocks. Walking among the natural amphitheaters that characterize the park and its calanque ridges, it is easy to hear the call of the wild boar. Every corner will capture the attention of visitors, captivating them at every glance.

The entrance to the cave is enclosed by a large depression, the Dolina della Spipola, but among other natural wonders, there are also formations such as the buco delle candele, which are karst structures almost ten meters high, sculpted by water and erosion. In addition, the park is home to enormous biodiversity, not to mention the various microclimates, all different, between deciduous forests and wetlands, with over seventeen different species of bats. If you are afraid of these birds, this place is not for you. If, on the other hand, you are a lover of bats, this is the right place to come and see these wonderful creatures.

It is the perfect place for those who love trekking, caving, photography, and geology. In addition, the park offers visitor centers in Farneto and Settefonti, as well as guides, guided itineraries, and trails accessible to hikers and mountain bikers.

Photo credits: Sally V - Licensed by CC 4.0