Festival of the Wool and Silk Road

A Festival Straddling the Apennines

The Festival of the Wool and Silk Road is the grand annual celebration of the path connecting Bologna to Prato through the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. For an entire weekend at the end of June, the two key villages on the route, Castiglione dei Pepoli (Metropolitan City of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna) and Montepiano (a hamlet of the Municipality of Vernio, in the province of Prato), transform into the beating heart of an event that intertwines slow tourism, culture, nature, and mountain gastronomy.

The Wool and Silk Road

The route that gives the festival its name is a hiking trail of about 130 kilometers that connects the two historic Italian textile cities: Bologna, the city of silk, and Prato, the city of wool. Inaugurated in 2018 thanks to the work of Vito Paticchia and local volunteers, the path crosses the Apennine ridge, passing through villages, abbeys, and landscapes of great natural value, and has given rise to a network of communities that gather every year precisely for this festival.

The Program

The event offers a dense series of events in both towns, on both sides of the regional border. Among the recurring proposals:

• Guided treks and walks for naturalistic and historical discovery of the territory, including multi-day excursions along the Road;
• Mountain bike tours along the ridge trails;
• Concerts and live performances in the squares and picturesque spots of the Apennine landscape;
• Craft and typical mountain product markets;
• Workshops for children and activities dedicated to families;
• meetings with authors, exhibitions, and guided tours of historical sites such as the Abbey of Santa Maria in Montepiano.

The 'Cucine della Via' (Kitchens of the Road)

The gastronomic heart of the festival is the 'Cucine della Via': restaurateurs from the Emilian and Tuscan sides gather in the streets of the two villages to offer traditional Apennine recipes in street food format. Offerings range from stewed wild boar to potato tortelli, from 'torta grassa' to lampredotto sandwiches, not forgetting vegetarian and vegan options. An opportunity to savor the cuisine of two regions, united rather than divided by the ridge, in a single event.

A Diffused and Sustainable Event

The festival is designed as a widespread, low-impact event: during Sunday, a shuttle service often connects the starting points of the treks and event venues, allowing for a sustainable experience. Organized by BOM Bologna Montana with the support of the Municipalities and entities from both sides, the Festival of the Wool and Silk Road has become a benchmark event for lovers of slow tourism and hiking in the Apennines.