Overview
The Ferrata di Rocca Badolo is a vertical route that climbs the typical Pliocene Buttress overlooking the village of Badolo, in the province of Bologna. The itinerary unfolds on a compact sandstone wall, a sedimentary rock that here presents itself with polished surfaces often veiled by a layer of loose sand. This characteristic, combined with the general compactness of the rock, can make footholds and handholds in free climbing more treacherous, highlighting the steel cable's essential role as both aid and safety. It is a short but intense via ferrata, an excellent training ground for technical practice, and is climbable in most seasons thanks to its favorable exposure.
Approach
Access is easy from the Sasso Marconi exit on the A1 motorway. Take the SS 325 to the left, then soon turn right toward Badolo. The provincial road climbs through a sequence of nine hairpin turns; at the last one, you can park on the roadside, where an information panel marks the start of the route. The equipped wall is already clearly visible above. From here, skirt a cultivated field on a moderate ascent, then enter a deciduous forest, always keeping direction toward the rock. Once at the base of the wall, staying on the left side, you'll find the start of the via ferrata within a few meters, reachable in about 10 minutes of walking from the parking area.
Via Ferrata
The itinerary is divided into three main sections, with the option of a final variant that changes its character.
First part: you tackle a uniformly sloping wall that leads to a dihedral equipped with a ladder of rungs. After overcoming this feature, a short, slightly overhanging section requires greater concentration. This first sector, taking about 10 minutes from the start, immediately introduces the vertical, continuous rhythm of the route.
Second part: progression continues vertically on a smooth slab, aided by the presence of artificial cracks. You then use some stirrups and holes in the rock to gain height, arriving at a short overhanging ladder. This latter, although it tends to push the climber outward, does not require excessive physical effort. You emerge onto a broad rocky terrace: to the right, you'll notice the belays of the climbing routes, while to the left, the final stretch continues.
Third part: initially, you overcome a wall of about 6 meters, which can also be bypassed to the left. This passage tends to overhang slightly; tackling it without the cable's protection requires maximum caution due to the risk of falling onto the ledge below. After a short stretch of steep trail, you reach the final dihedral, technically the most challenging passage. The position of the cable and holds requires climbing decisively to counteract the tendency to be pushed outward. The dihedral is narrow in some spots and demands a steady step and minimal climbing technique, but it is short (about 8 meters) and the effort is contained. A ladder of rungs concludes the climb, bringing you in 30 minutes from the start to the summit plateau of Rocca Badolo.
"Traverse of the Magnificent 4" variant: in 2022, a section was added in memory of Oscar Belotti, Nando Stagni, Augusto Righi, and Otello Olivini. This is a long horizontal traverse in strong exposure that cuts across the big wall of Badolo Alto. Access is from a small terrace located before the final dihedral of the third part. Traversing it to the right avoids the dihedral and does not reach the summit. It can also be tackled in the opposite direction after completing the main route, descending from the top toward the climbing routes of Badolo Altissimo and following the sign for the traverse. This passage, classifiable as difficult, takes about 5 minutes; given the scarcity of rest points, a longe may be useful. Maximum attention to avoid dislodging stones, especially if there are climbers on the crag below.
Descent
From the summit plateau, the descent is on the opposite side from the ascent, following tracks that descend steeply into the forest until intercepting a mid-slope trail. Taking this to the right, in a few minutes you reach a small church. From here, a mule track leads in 10 minutes to the provincial road. Descending a couple of hairpin turns, you return to the parking area in about 20 minutes from the end of the via ferrata, for a total time for the entire itinerary of about 1 hour.
Useful Notes
Although it is not an extremely complex itinerary, some passages should not be underestimated due to the slippery and friable nature of the sandstone. The Ferrata di Rocca Badolo, originally built in 1976 to facilitate access to the climbing sectors of Badolo Medio and Alto and modernized by the CAI of Bologna in 2015, represents an excellent training ground for honing climbing skills. For those coming from the north, it can be combined in a day with other via ferratas of the Emilian and Tuscan Apennines.
