Alto Reno Terme

Alto Reno Terme is a town in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines on the border between Emilia Romagna and Tuscany.

The area has been inhabited since ancient times and is renowned for its well-known thermal springs that have been frequented since Roman times.  The recently renovated Terme di Porretta (thermal baths), in addition to offering various services for health and well-being, is also a place in which cultural meetings and other initiatives are held, such as guided tours of the underground springs.

Many itineraries start from Porretta Terme – including parts of the Gothic Line and the Alta Via dei Parchi – as well as nature excursions and walks in the greenery of the surrounding hills and mountains, among chestnut, beech and fir trees to be covered on foot or mountain bike. There is also a take-off area for hang gliding and paragliding enthusiasts. In the historic centre of Porretta Terme you can admire the nineteenth-century church of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the “Church of the Friars”, which hosts one of the most famous mechanical nativity scenes in existence. Not far away, you can visit the charming medieval village of Castelluccio, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding valleys. In the historic centre of the village you can visit the Manservisi Castle, the churches of Santa Maria Assunta and San Michele in Capugnano and the Laborantes museum, which is the largest in the Bolognese mountains. A short distance from the town you can take a walk through the greenery to reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Faggio, a small 18th century sanctuary immersed in a beech wood. From the Sanctuary, taking a small detour, you can reach another small village, Tresana consisting of a few stone-built houses immersed in an ancient chestnut and beech wood. In spring and summer, the village is adorned with numerous hydrangeas.

Porretta Terme is also home to the famous Porretta SOUL Festival, an internationally renowned event that brings the voices and history of soul music to the city every year. The 2025 edition saw the inauguration of the Porretta SOUL Museum, the perfect place to immerse yourself in the history of this iconic festival. The museum, located in the former 19th-century prisons in Via Borgolungo 10, was set up to mark the twinning with the city of Memphis. Inside, there is an exhibition rich in documents, stage costumes, memorabilia, photographs and information panels, which tell the story of the festival from 1988 to the present day.

The village is also the charming backdrop for the Porretta SOUL Festival’s Street Art (Click here to see all the stops). The project was born from a competition that involved the selection of 5 artists from 33 candidates from all over Europe. The project was sponsored by the Municipality of Alto Reno Terme, in collaboration with ARTlab, the creative community of Alto Reno Terme, and the Montessori – Da Vinci Institute of Higher Education in Porretta Terme.

Granaglione, on the other hand, is a mountain centre consisting of a dozen or so villages arranged in a semicircle, located in the green Randaragna valley. It is one of the places with the highest amount of greenery compared to the surface of the entire European continent. Nearby, you can visit Casa Calistri and the village of Lustrola with its stone-built houses.