Colle della Guardia / San Luca from Bologna

An iconic climb, a test for Sunday cyclists with good training. The toughest section is definitely the central one, after the orphanage curves. Also not to be missed is the other side, longer but with decidedly easier gradients.

A legendary climb, included several times in the Giro d'Italia and the Giro dell'Emilia, it begins immediately with steep slopes in the double digits, you catch your breath in the central part but immediately after the arch you face the most challenging stretch: the curve of the orphan girls and the wall proper, about 100 metres of really bad stuff. From the Basilica there is an excellent view of the city.

A climb made I don't know how many times from the Meloncello arch: the first part is demanding, then it flattens out a little and you catch your breath, the last part starting from under the portico, you make an "S" the so-called "curva delle orfanelle" with a steeper gradient. Passing under the portico again the road narrows a lot, watch out for pedestrians too.....and you finally reach the end. In my opinion, one should not force oneself in the turnaround points feeling at the end because the "mazzata" finale, with the curve of the orphanages, is the real test.

One of its two sections is quite challenging: the first is at 14％ and very short and takes two minutes to complete: the second, which comes after an almost even section, is longer and steeper and ends with a section at 10％ that only flattens out in front of the church. At the finish there is a view of the whole town. Next to the gate there is a fountain (not cold water alas). Ca va sans dire that it is unmissable for those passing through Bologna

An unmissable experience for a cyclist in Bologna. The climb runs along the entire pedestrian ascent portico towards the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. The most demanding point is also known as the "Salita delle Orfanelle" because in that part around 1930 there was a girls' orphanage. The finish is in the Colle della Guardia.
The climb is now a crucial part of the Tour of Emilia, during which cyclists ride it several times in a loop including Mont'Albano, Via Casaglia (downhill) and Via Saragozza.