Brasimone Lake is part of the Natural Lake Park of Suviana and Brasimone in central Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. This beautiful man-made lake and nature reserve is just about an hour from Bologna. Whether you are making it a day trip from there or whether you’ll be spending a few days in the park, let’s find out what to expect.

Brasimone Lake and the Park

The park is located in the central Bologna Apennines with an elevation ranging from about 400 to 1,200 meters above sea level. In the early 1900s, the artificial lakes of Suviana and Brasimone were created to produce hydroelectric power. More information and guided tours are available at the visitors’ center.

Animal and Plant Species

Most of the park’s area is covered by woodlands including oak, beech, and conifer species. Animal species include the red deer, the rare roe deer, and wild boar. Another highlight of Brasimone Lake is the Grotta delle Fate or the Fairy’s Grotto. Along the ridge known as the Cinghi delle Mogne a natural cavity has been carved out of the sandstone forming a 3-meter deep by 70-meter-long cave.

Sports and Nature

Watersports of all kinds including kayaking, canoeing, paddling, windsurfing, and of course, swimming, can all be enjoyed in the summer months on the lake. Other activities within the park include multiple hiking trails of varying difficulty with or without a guide. Mountain biking is also popular along the well-maintained trails within the park.

©facebook.com/enteparchi.bo/

Villages

Other points of interest within the park include the villages of Bargi, Chiapporato, and Stagno. Poranceto is situated within a large grove of chestnut trees, some of which are hundreds of years old. There is also a museum and a visitors’ center which offers visitors a wonderful look into the ecosystem and the traditional uses for chestnut trees.

Getting There

Getting to the park is rather easy either by car or by train. From Florence or Bologna, take the A1 autostrada and exit at Badia then go towards Castiglione dei Pepoli. By train, take the Bologna-Porretta-Pistoia line to the Riola di Vergato Station with connections to Lake Brasimone. Or the Bologna-Firenze line toward Castiglione dei Pepoli getting off at the San Benedetto Val di Sambro Station.

More information about park hours, visitors’ centers, and guided tours is available on the official website.