Discover Runco: San Sisto, Cycling Route and Caviale Ferrarese

Runco combines culture, regional cuisine and routes into a destination where you can discover different sides of Italy side by side. The highlights are the Church of San Sisto, two routes connected to the area and Caviale Ferrarese from the Le Occare agriturismo. This makes it possible to structure a trip between architecture, tradition, cycling stages and tastings in a meaningful way.

San Sisto and the History of Runco

The Church of San Sisto is considered the only tangible sign of Runco’s ancient origins. At the same time, it is a Baroque church dating from 1600. San Sisto is therefore a cultural focal point that clearly differs from a purely landscape- or food-focused trip.

San Sisto contains a portrait by Scarsellino that is attributed to the patron saint. Another religiously significant motif is the image of the Madonna della Trebbia, which is held in high veneration. Local tradition tells that the image was found intact after it had become caught in the gears of a threshing machine. Anyone who would like to discover not only architecture but also religious artistic traditions and local stories will find a distinct approach to the history of the area here.

Historic Route and Cycling Stages

The historic route from Portomaggiore to Ripapersico begins at the Ponte delle Volpi in Portomaggiore and leads to the Church of San Sisto in Runco as a stop along the way. Runco lies between Portomaggiore and Ripapersico; San Sisto is the church stop.

On the municipal cycling route to San Sisto, Runco lies 2 km beyond Gambulaga. This distance helps you place the sequence of the section between Gambulaga, Runco and San Sisto. The two routes thus offer different perspectives on the area: one connects Runco with a historic route between Portomaggiore and Ripapersico, while the other describes its position within a municipal cycling connection. The two kilometres make it possible to plan the section from Gambulaga to Runco as a separate part of the ride.

After the church stop in Runco, the cycling route continues towards Quartiere. Further along, the road runs beside the dried-up riverbed of the Sandalo. For cyclists and visitors who enjoy exploring their surroundings through specific stretches of road, the area’s history, movement and landscape thereby become part of a connected travel experience, without limiting Runco to a single theme. For cyclists, the route towards Quartiere and along the Sandalo can be divided into sections.

Caviale Ferrarese at Le Occare

Runco also has a clear culinary point of reference. The production of Caviale Ferrarese at the Le Occare agriturismo has been documented since 2009. There, the specialty is made according to Nuta’s original recipe and offered for tasting and purchase. Le Occare brings together the production, tasting and purchase of the specialty.

Other Places for Orientation

Porto Garibaldi, San Giuseppe, Tamara, Macchiavella, Cento, Volania, Ambrogio, Mesola

For the higher-level travel overview: Ferrara.