Camugnano: lakes and forests in the Bolognese Apennines

Often called the terrace on the Apennines for its sweeping views, Camugnano is a scattered mountain municipality south-west of Bologna, set at around 700 metres in the wooded valleys near the Tuscan border. With fewer than two thousand inhabitants spread among its many hamlets, it is the least crowded corner of the Bologna area and a haven for lovers of the outdoors.

Two mountain lakes

The whole district lies within the regional park of the Suviana and Brasimone lakes, two reservoirs created in the early 20th century for hydroelectric power and now ringed by forests and trails. Lake Suviana, in particular, is a summer destination for swimming, sailing, windsurfing and canoeing, while long-distance footpaths such as the Way of Wool and Silk and the Alta Via dei Parchi cross the surrounding ridges.

Villages and viewpoints

Among the stone hamlets, Bargi is worth seeking out for its 17th-century watch-tower, which houses a small museum, while the chestnut woods of Poranceto shelter a forest visitor centre. The area is also known for its truffles.

How to reach it

Camugnano is roughly sixty kilometres south-west of Bologna, reached by mountain roads near Castiglione dei Pepoli and the Porrettana route towards Tuscany.