The Barbotto Trail, almost completely surrounded by greenery, crosses 2 Nature Oases for a total distance of 12.7 km; the elevation difference is 628 meters and the walking time is calculated at 4 hours and 25 minutes. We recommend parking at the Cemetery and walking the trail clockwise heading toward the center of Rontagnano, a settlement located on the top of a hill between the Uso and Savio valleys. Once there stood a Malatesta castle (12th century) of which some ruins still remain. The keep of the fortress was transformed into a bell tower in the 18th century. The nearby Church of San Biagio preserves some interesting furnishings, including a 15th-century wooden kneeler and an 18th-century organ.

Leaving the built-up area, take 123b and then continue on 111, which runs alongside the Tornano Nature Oasis, the first nature area on this route.
Continuing on the route (Trail 111) we soon face the ‘ascent to Mount Spelano, covered by a beautiful forest, once a frequent destination for excursions by the local population. On the summit the Cross to the Fallen, about 5 meters high, is clearly visible. Shortly before Mt. Spelano is the Barbotto locality, a name well known to cyclists for the difficult climb there from Mercato Saraceno, characterized by a height difference of 365 meters and a last km with gradients of up to 18 percent. In Barbotto there is a monument dedicated to the well-known cyclist and unforgettable champion Marco Pantani.
After a steep descent on 111 then taking Trail 123 we descend gently to “Brocchi” and then climb again crossing the Rio Campitello and Trail 123c: here we are already inside the second oasis, the Rontagnano Nature Oasis. Along this part of the path we soon encounter a detour that leads to the “Triton Basin” where it is possible to admire, in a stone trough, specimens of Tritons (Triturus carnifex): these are amphibians similar to salamanders that live in still waters characterized by the absence of fish and pollution. From here we return in a short time to the starting point by continuing on 123c.