Granaglione
Welcome to Porretta Terme, the municipality of Alto Reno Terme
Hello friends! Today we will talk about Porretta Terme, the most populous village and the municipal seat of Alto Reno Terme, in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna. From Porretta, the provincial capital is away and can be easily reached through the state road 64 Porrettana. If instead, you want to visit Pistoia, the same state road will take you to the Tuscan city in no time.
Discover the physical geography of Porretta Terme
Porretta Terme is located in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, in a basin situated on the left hydrographic side of the Reno River. The town is bathed by the Rio Maggiore (Bologna) stream, which then joins the Reno. Thanks to the Porrettana railway, Porretta is well connected both to Bologna and Pistoia. The main station of Porrettana is right here, in Porretta.
The city is divided into two parts by the Reno River. In the north, there are the Corvella district, the Silla location, and the Berzantina city, belonging to the municipality of Castel di Casio. In the south instead, there is the Ponte della Venturina district, the municipality of Sambuca Pistoiese, and the Pavana location. Porretta could therefore be considered the capital of an intermunicipal and interprovincial "linear city" with over 10,000 inhabitants.
Territory of Porretta Terme
The former municipal territory of Porretta Terme included 3 villages: Corvella, Capugnano, and Castelluccio. These villages have now merged, along with the former capital, into the new municipality of Alto Reno Terme. The Porretta territory is mountainous and reaches heights up to . The basin where the city is located represents the lowest altimetric point of the municipality.
Porretta is completely surrounded by forest cover, mainly composed of coppice woods and chestnut trees. There are also reforestation areas with evergreen plantations. Agriculture, on the other hand, has almost disappeared.
What are the origins of the name?
The name Porretta Terme would derive from the Latin term ''porrectus,'' which means "long" or "extended."
The history of Porretta Terme
The history of Porretta is very ancient and is associated with the presence of healing waters. A legend dating back to the medieval era tells the story of a sick ox that was left free by its owner and went to drink from one of the thermal springs. The ox returned to its owner completely healed, giving rise to the fame of the waters of Porretta Terme. The ox drinking is still the emblem of the former municipality of Porretta.
Thank you for reading with us until the end! We hope your next visit to Porretta Terme will exceed all expectations. Enjoy!
