Rivers, lakes and oases: the cool side of Bologna

We are now in the middle of summer and the heat in the city is becoming overwhelming, as is the desire to stay cool!

• The Lakes

1. Lake Suviana
   Lake Suviana, located between the municipalities of Castel di Casio and Camugnano, is the largest body of water in the Bolognese Apennines. About an hour and a half’s drive from Bologna, the lake offers plenty of services and amenities. You can stop in the picnic areas, choose one of the many restaurants along the shores, or simply relax in the sun by the water. Many CAI trails also start from Suviana, suitable both on foot and by bike. This destination is also perfect for a trip with children, who can have fun at the nearby adventure park.

2. Lake Brasimone
   Located at an altitude of about 800 meters near Camugnano, Lake Brasimone is a charming artificial reservoir set within the Regional Park of Suviana and Brasimone Lakes. Surrounded by woods and trails, it is crossed by important hiking routes such as the Wool and Silk Route and the High Route of the Parks. Perfect for a regenerating mountain break, the lake also offers a fully equipped camper area, “La Guardata”, where you can spend a starry night by the water. Not far away, the Ranuzzi-Segni refuge in the fir woods of Monte Baducco offers spectacular views of the Apennine ridge.

3. Lake Santa Maria
   A little further downstream from Brasimone, in the territory of Castiglione dei Pepoli, Lake Santa Maria (also called Lake San Damiano) completes the system of reservoirs built in the early 20th century for hydroelectric production. The lake is set in a quiet and green environment, perfect for those seeking peace, nature, and relaxing views. This body of water is also part of the pre-park area of the Regional Park of Suviana and Brasimone Lakes and is crossed by the same Brasimone stream, which brings freshness and biodiversity to the area.

4. Lake Castel dell’Alpi
   Just a few minutes from Madonna dei Fornelli (crossed by two important Apennine trails, the Gods’ Route and the Mater Dei Route), you will find Lake Castel dell’Alpi, a lovely and refreshing glimpse of the Bolognese Apennines. Around the lake you can walk, relax on the many benches along the shore, or enjoy the equipped area with hammocks and picnic tables. Not far from the lake we recommend a short walk along the stretch of the Gods’ Route that retraces the Flaminia Militare, where you can still admire the ancient paving.
   
   
   
5. Lake Scaffaiolo
   If you love high altitudes, Lake Scaffaiolo is a must-see. Located at 1775 meters on the ridge of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, it is the highest natural lake in the Apennine chain. The landscape around it is vast, silent, swept only by the wind, and dotted with trails, the most famous leading to the nearby Duca degli Abruzzi Refuge. Scaffaiolo is wrapped in ancient popular legends that enhance its charm: it is said, for example, that its waters communicate with the afterlife…
   An ideal place for hikes, unforgettable sunsets, and starry nights.
   
   

• Other Oases

1. Oasi La Rizza, former rice field of Bentivoglio
   Heading north of the city, not far from the village of Bentivoglio, stretches the Oasi La Rizza, also known as the Former Rice Field. One of the most important environmental reconstruction projects of the Bolognese plain, it is home to rich wildlife, especially birds, and offers the chance to discover the charm of the landscapes and forests that once populated this area. The wetland consists of a large irregular-shaped basin where the kingfisher hunts for prey from one bank to another. Among the incredible reed beds, called common reed, which grow over 2 meters high, the white stork — extinct here for centuries — has returned to nest. You can admire it flying peacefully among the poplars, white willows, ashes, and field maples that shade the oasis.
   
   
   
2. La Bisana
   In the heart of the Bolognese plain lies a natural monument of great environmental interest: the floodplain forest of La Bisana, an example of humid riparian forest created by deposits from the Reno River. Inside are different habitats: you can walk in the shade of willow and poplar gallery forests along the banks, or through meadows and clearings. Among the majestic tree trunks you may spot small surprises such as the nests of green and great spotted woodpeckers. A magical spectacle lights up the forest at night: fireflies illuminating the bushes. During summer, night tours are organized to admire this enchanting natural phenomenon. La Bisana is home to many species that survive here thanks to the untouched environment of this precious area.