Monte Pizzo

Monte Pizzo rises to 1,149 m in the Apennines above Vidiciatico, in the Emilia-Romagna hills, and is best known locally as a reliable thermal and soaring site with genuine cross-country potential. The launch faces the north through north-east and east to south-east arc, so it lights up on days when the wind sits in that quadrant, and pilots use the ridge lift to work up before pushing out along the range. On weekends a free shuttle bus (roughly 10:00–19:00, Saturday and Sunday) runs from the Vidiciatico square area up to the adventure-park zone near launch, which keeps the approach simple even without a car reaching the top. Western winds are the one condition to avoid here — the site loses its shelter and turns rough from that direction, so check the forecast before committing to the drive up. Beyond the thermal and soaring days, the surrounding Apennine ridgeline gives XC-minded pilots a natural line to follow, making Monte Pizzo a solid option for a day trip from Bologna or Modena when the wind direction cooperates.

Launch & conditions

Launch faces north through north-east, east and south-east; avoid flying when the wind comes from the west.

Getting there & local rules

Park at Vidiciatico square; a free weekend shuttle bus (roughly 10:00–19:00, Sat–Sun) runs up to the launch area.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Monte Pizzo, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Monte Pizzo with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.