Cene: Fossils, History, Hiking and Cycling
Accommodation in Cene
Cene combines an important palaeontological site with historic buildings and routes for hiking and cycling. This makes it possible to shape your stay according to different interests: from the history of a flying reptile and traces of early fortifications to moderately difficult routes and family-friendly cycle paths.
File:Torre del Mazzo, Cene, Italy, La costruzione dalla corte.jpg
Photo: CASTRUMCAPELLEONLUS via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Culture and History in Cene
The Parco Paleontologico di Cene represents an extraordinary chapter in the history of the Earth. In 1973, the site yielded the fossil remains of Eudimorphodon ranzii, the oldest known flying reptile in the world and the first flying reptile attributed to the Triassic period. For visitors who would like to connect their stay with a specific historical or scientific theme, this site is therefore a particularly distinctive point of reference.
The Chiesa Prepositurale di San Zenone also contains several layers of history. Construction of the new church began in 1761. Its bell tower was built from the old tower of the castle.
Il Castello preserves a fortified historic core with large stone walls, herringbone masonry, and the remains of a demolished tower. Following building work, Il Castello was converted into a private residence. The Torre del Mazzo is the only surviving historic tower in Cene. The preserved section is approximately two storeys high and also features herringbone masonry.
Among the smaller local landmarks is the public washhouse known as “ol laandére”. It is the only surviving public washhouse in Cene and was built in 1898 for the women of the S. Rocco district. Ol Piputì is a wall sculpture in Cene that is locally interpreted as a depiction of a swaddled child. It is made of marble from Cene and probably dates from the 13th century.
Hiking through Forests, Meadows and Terraces
CAI Trail 546 begins near the road to Monte Bò and leads through forests to the meadows of Monte Bò. Known as the Giro del Monte Bue, this CAI trail forms part of a moderately difficult 7.7-kilometre hike.
A longer, also moderately difficult option is the route from Cene to Prati Moletti via Route 541. Route 541 begins at the Chiesa della Madonnina di Cene. The two routes therefore differ both in length and starting point: CAI Trail 546 starts near the road to Monte Bò, while Route 541 starts at a church in Cene.
La Strada Verde connects with the municipality of Cene via Monte Altino. Its route passes through forests, pastures, and terraces that preserve traces of former agricultural work.
Cycling with Different Route Profiles
The Ciclodromo di Cene is a fully enclosed asphalt circuit approximately 1,080 metres long. Anyone looking for a clearly defined loop will find a different type of route here than on the longer paths through the surrounding landscape.
The Ciclovia della Val Seriana has no significant steep climbs and runs on unpaved earth or asphalt. This makes it particularly suitable for families.
Other places to compare: Serina, Villa Di Serio, Piazzatorre, Cenate Sopra, Bossico, Leffe, Valtorta and Fino Del Monte.
For the broader travel overview: Bergamo.
