PORRETTA AND THE APPENNINES – NATURE BECOMES TOURISM   

Porretta Terme, a small jewel embedded in the Tuscan-Emilian Appennines where opulent Emilia meets Tuscany with its rich history, is the ideal starting point for extraordinary itineraries designed for those who are not simply attracted to the nearby cities of arts (Bologna and Florence are just a few tens of kilometers away), but who are eager to explore a landscape rich in castles, fortresses, abbeys, churches and villages where time has stood still.
This area has something for everyone, beginning with art and nature itineraries where little known treasures can be discovered in sites not yet disturbed by mass tourism. Trekking and mountain bike enthusiasts will find many courses which are carefully tendered to by the local Alpine Club and by the many sport associations located in the area.
This territory is rich in history which extends from archeologic periods through to the Middle Ages and history buffs will be fascinated by the ruins and reliques of etrurian , Longbard and roman settlements.
A variety of facilities cater for all sports and you’ll even find lauch areas for para gliders and hang gliders. There are bright streams for canoeing and, in winter, the snowy slopes of Cimone and Corno alle Scale, will welcome ski lovers.
Fine cuisine, with its typical fireplace cooking, is another ingredient which will make holidays, sightseeing and excursions unforgettable.
Culture, intimately interwoven with the landscape, spirituality, based on a sense of religion springing from the crusades and enriched by local beliefs, make Porretta a strong spot of interest. It has the perfect holiday place for all visitors. It offers the famous natural thermal baths and a myriad of possibilities for holidays for the elderly and didactic, sport, cultural and religious tourism. If you are only interested in visiting the splendid cities of art such as Bologna, Florence and Lucca, you can get there in less than an hour from Porretta, by train, too, so staying in Porretta offers you the benefit of spending much less on accommodation.

The staff of the “Roma Hotel” not only welcomes its guests but will do all it can to make their stay as pleasant and as interesting as possible. Hidden in the beauty of our Appennines, we have found a number of true “treasures” which we would love our visitors to discover.
Here are some examples:

• Chiesina (Lizzano in Belvedere): itinerary with religious icons sculptured in the rock, dating back to 1700;

• a number of villages of the municipalities of Sambuca, Castel di Casio, Granaglione (the most famous are those in Poggiolforato), with several buildings containing anthropomorphic figures in stone, locally referred to as “mummies”, from celtic and Longbard tradition;
• Remnants of romanic churches (byzantine “delubro” in Lizzano), small villages with preserved antique mediaeval towers, romanic churches (Pianaccio, Rocca Corneta, Gabba, Monteacuto delle Alpi);
• Città di Misa (Marzabotto) : the only etrurian city fully understood in its urban tracing;
• Monteveglio e Bazzano: properties of Matilde di Canossa, today crossed by the “Bologna Hills Wine Road” with cellars open to the public for wine tasting and sales of the best Italian wines;
• Zappolino: famous for the famous battle described in the “Kidnapped Bucket”;
• Ca’ Ghironda: its museum exhibits about 200 sculptures by Picasso, Chagal, Manzu’ and others;
• Grizzana Morandi: where you can visit the birthplace of the famous painter, Giorgio Morandi. Here he painted the reknown “Camapiaro Haylofts” and other masterpieces;
• Prato: the Emperor Castle and the Mediaeval “Cassero”, a wonderful example of a Svevian manor, the only one in Central-North Italy;
• Pontepetri (S. Marcello Pistoiese): were Catilina is thought to have lost his life;
• Casoni (Pistoia): with its celtic huts;
• Pistoia: with its world famous pulpits created by Niccolo’ Pisano in 1200 in gothic style (some can be found in the museums of Berlin and New York);
• Mammiano Basso: the “Ferriere” suspended bridge, designed by Leonardo da Vinci, is the world’s longest pedestrian suspended bridge;
• Ferriera Sabatini: a village built on the wish of Cosimo de Medici;
• Fanano: along its streets and in its squares you can admire the art work in carved stone, fruit of the creativity of several artists from around the world;
• Montese: with its 13th century fortress, the ruins of Manforte Castle, the chapel which boasts marvelous 15th century frescos;
• Maserno: with the beautifully frescoed 15th century oratory

     Hotel Roma     
Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 4 - 40046 Porretta Terme (BO) - ITALY
Tel +39.534.21535   fax +39.534.21692   e-mail: info@hotelromaporretta.com