The best cycling routes in Piacenza

One of the most scenic spots in Val Trebbia.

The banks of the Trebbia river are among the most beautiful elements of the Trebbia Valley, especially in the stretch between Piacenza and the Ligurian-Emilian Apennines, where the river alternates gravel beaches, rocky walls, and very wild green areas.

The bends of the Trebbia river (also called meanders) are the large curves that the river forms in the Trebbia Valley, especially in the Apennine stretch between Bobbio, Brugnello and Marsaglia.

Romantic, suitable for everyone.

The Passo della Scaparina (1108 m), located between Valle Staffora and Val Trebbia, offers splendid panoramic views, especially when proceeding towards Passo Penice.

The Ponte Gobbo in Bobbio, also known as the "Devil's Bridge", is a medieval structure 273 meters long with 11 irregular arches, located on the Trebbia River. Legend has it that the Devil built it in one night in exchange for the soul of the first passerby, who was then tricked by Saint Columbanus, who made an animal cross first.

A wonderful stop. Both the church and the baptistery were open, and we were able to enter for a visit. It's worth a detour if you're in the area.

Hunchback Bridge or Devil's Bridge In the Middle Ages, the construction of a bridge was considered a miraculous feat. For this reason, the construction of such structures gave rise to many legends, often involving the devil: joining two places that God had wanted separated was seen by many as a "diabolical" work. According to an ancient legend, Saint Columbanus, a 7th-century Irish monk, was eager to bring the word of God to the people living on the other bank of the Trebbia River, near the town of Bobbio. The devil promised to build the bridge in a single night, in exchange for the first mortal soul to cross it. The saint accepted. That night, the devil summoned several little devils who assisted him in the construction work, holding up the bridge's arches. The demons were of different heights, and thus the various arches of the bridge were of varying sizes. In the morning, the devil stationed himself at the end of the bridge to demand his payment. But Saint Columbanus outwitted him by having his poor, suffering and very sick dog (some say it was a bear) cross the bridge instead of a man. The enraged devil returned to hell, but not before kicking his handiwork, which has been crooked ever since. It is said that the footprints of the unfortunate animal that served as a guinea pig still remain in the crypt of the Church of Saint Columbanus. The Hunchback Bridge, also known as the Ponte Vecchio or, more precisely, the Devil's Bridge, is a Roman structure that has undergone numerous renovations over the centuries. The structure above dates back to the 7th century, but traces of an older bridge, dating back to before Columbanus' arrival, have been found underneath. The bridge, characterized by its undulating shape, irregular arches, and relatively narrow carriageway, is 280 meters long and connects the two banks of the river through a complicated succession of 11 irregular spans, varying in span and height, creating an undulating path from one end to the other. The Bobbio Bridge, now used only as a pedestrian crossing, is the very symbol of the city of San Colombano, as well as one of the strangest and most original architectural structures in Italy. Source: Emilia-Romagna Region