piccola cassia - stage 5 - gaggio montano to porretta terme

general info

Distance: 8.5km
Elevation gain / loss: +200m / -450m

Terrain:

Tarmac: 50%
Trail: 50%

Technical difficulties and sections requiring special attention

All parts of the trail can become slippery or challenging in muddy conditions

Public transport options from the endpoint

Rail lines: Porretta Terme – Bologna
Rail lines: Porretta Terme – Pistoia

GPX track download

stage description

The itinerary starts in Gaggio Montano and leads to Porretta Terme. After passing through the historic village and admiring the stunning panorama from the "Faro di Gaggio Montano," the route continues along secondary and unpaved agricultural roads (note: exercise caution on the SP26 section) until reaching the Silla stream, which can be crossed via a ford formed by a concrete weir.

After crossing the stream, the path continues along trails and forest roads, arriving at the center of Porretta Terme and the railway station. For cyclists, it is recommended to take the variant through the Silla hamlet.

Points of interest

Porretta Terme

Porretta Terme is located in the municipality of Alto Reno Terme, the last stretch of the Bolognese Apennines on the border with the Province of Pistoia. The highest peak in the area is Monte Piella (1,500 m).

The town is a well-known spa resort and holiday destination, famous for its sulfurous and salsobromoiodic thermal waters, already appreciated in Roman times.

Porretta Terme is also an ideal starting point for nature excursions in the surrounding mountains and hills, where several picturesque locations can be explored. Notable sites include the 19th-century Church of the Immaculate, also known as the “Frati Church,” which houses one of the most famous mechanical nativity scenes, and the parish Church of Santa Maria Maddalena.

With its wellness centers and offerings based on the use of its precious thermal waters, the town is a perfect place for relaxation and regeneration. It also features modern sports facilities, including an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis and soccer fields, and gyms.

Porretta Terme hosts the Porretta Soul Festival, Europe’s most prestigious event entirely dedicated to soul and rhythm & blues music, held every July.