Porretta Terme

Porretta Terme is an Italian commune in the province of Bologna with 4776 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012). Porretta is known for its hot bath as a spa and resort.

Geography

Porretta is located in the Tuscan- Emilian Apennines, in the valley of Reno, at the mouth of his left-side tributary of Rio Maggiore. Laws of the river runs the railway line, which separates the left side of Porretta Berzantina, which administratively belongs to Castel di Casio.

History

The history of the thermal baths of Porretta dates back to the ancient world: the famous mask representing the face of a lion, and has become the symbol of the thermal baths of Porretta, this sculpture mask of marble was found in 1888 in Rio Maggiore and probably dates from the first century AD from the 12th century is Porretta mentioned with its thermal baths in many documents, and from the end of the 14th century a growing interest in the bathrooms, especially in the political milieu of the city of Bologna.

In this time the construction of the first church hostels goes back and today's village is gradually emerging from and adopt the name of Bagni della Porretta ( Bad Porretta ). From this period dates the legend of the exhausted oxen: An exhausted and sick ox, which was suspended by his shepherd, relieved his thirst at the source of the Monte Sassocardo and returned to his stable back completely healthy. From now on, the healing water was rediscovered and the Ox, drinking at the water source, was raised to the municipal coat of arms.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the interest of the Italian sovereigns and princes grew from the Renaissance to the thermal baths of Porretta. The fame of Porretta and its thermal baths for the cure of female infertility was so widespread that the well-known dealer of Prato, Francesco Datini, 1387 wrote a few lines about it, which he cited in his letter collections. Niccolò Machiavelli also mentioned Porretta in his play La Mandragola (first curtain - Second scene).

During the Second World War, Porretta was in the winter of 1944 in front close to the Gothic Line; partisans were active in the area.

Traffic

Porretta is located on the old railway road ( Porrettanabahn ) of Bologna via Pistoia to Florence. The route, however, has lost much after the construction of the railway line Bologna - Florence in the 1930s in importance and is now the only regional traffic.