Discovering the Partisans’ Way
Itinerary: Sant’Eufemia, Purocielo di Sopra, Sant’Eufemia
Known as the Partisans’ Way, this circular itinerary is ideal for those who not only have a bike with wide tyres, but also very agile legs – it has a vertical rise of 555 metres that need to be tackled over a distance of just under 14 kilometres. It begins in Sant’Eufemia and leads along dirt tracks, through the Apennines surrounding Faenza, the mountains that in October 1944 where the backdrop to the battle of Purocielo. There are some memorial stones here to commemorate fallen partisans, including the one near Ca’ Malanca. This is halfway round the itinerary, so we recommend taking a break to catch your breath, enjoy the magnificent views and visit the Italian Resistance Documentation Centre. The route then heads downhill, returning towards the departure point via a thrilling descent that is never too demanding.
Curiosities
The Battle of Purocielo
In the valley of Santamaria Purocielo (now Santa Maria in Gorgonzano), despite having far fewer arms and being heavily outnumbered, the partisans of the 36th Bianconcini Garibaldi Brigade valiantly fought the Fascist German artillery. The photographs, documents and information material on this battle can be consulted at the Italian Resistance Documentation Centre in Ca’ Malanca.
