Via Degli Dei

The Via degli Dei connects two fountains - one in Bologna and the other in Florence, both dedicated to the same God. 

Neptune, the God of the Sea, marks the beginning and the end of the route - the first God of the many the Cammino is dedicated to. 

Read more about Neptune and the Via degli Dei in our blog.

Monte Adone is located in the heart of the middle Bolognese Apennines along the Via degli Dei, situated in the southeastern part of the municipal territory of Sasso Marconi.

This area is characterized by dry meadows and rare Mediterranean trees such as holm oak and manna ash.

The summit of Monte Adone, rising to 654.44 meters above sea level, is accessible from the charming village of Brento, a hamlet of Monzuno, and located on its eastern slopes. There are several natural and panoramic attractions at the summit, including the enchanting Grotte delle Fate (Fairy Caves), Grotticella, and Cunicolo Pozzo (Pit Tunnel).

Additionally, Monte Adone is the source of various streams that serve as tributaries of the Savena River.

In the area, there are numerous traces of the area's pagan past.

Local place names reference deities of the Roman religion, and the name of the village itself may derive from Mons Jovis (Mount of Jupiter), or from Mons Junonis (Mount of Juno).
However, it is more likely that the name simply derives from the Latin "mons" meaning mountain, as in other towns like Monzone, Montione.

According to local legend, this mountain roughly nine miles from Florence would echo with sounds from its caves whenever the wind passed through.

Because of this echo, the mountain has been called Sonario or Sonaio since ancient times, although it is more commonly known as Monte Asinario, due to a linguistic corruption where the letter "a" was added, and the "o" was transformed into "i".

As well as views back towards Florence and its Tuscan surrounds, the Via degli Dei camino is made even more special by the Servite monastery that has sat on the hillside since 1245. Known as the hermitage of Monte Senario, it has been extended across the centuries but remains a step back into times of ancient worship.