The Ridracoli dam, which provides water to one million people since the 1980’s, is actually not a good example of balance between engineering and nature. Even so, it’s still a place of great interest from an architectural and a naturalistic point of view that deserves to be paid a visit for at least two reasons: the natural beauty of the surroundings and the opportunity to pass a critical eye over the environmental impact of the dam.

 

Ridracoli is located in the municipality of Bagno di Romagna in the province of Forlì-Cesena and it’s around 33 km distant from the Farm. You can reach it by car or by hiking along a 15-km-long trail that crosses the beautiful villages of Rio Salso and Pietrapazza.
For further information of if you want to organise a hiking, please do not hesitate to contact our staff.

The dam was built between 1972 and 1982 at an altitude of 557 m.a.s.l. in order to impound the rivers of Bidente and Rio Celluzze.

Technically it’s an arch-gravity dam, so part of the water’s force is transferred to the canyon walls.
Its height is 103 metres and its width is 36 metres in the bottom part and only 10 metres at the height of the crest.
The total length of the arch is 436 m.
The water that supplies the waterworks is drawn from the lake through intake works, located in the right abutment consisting in two intakes located at different elevations (490 and 540 m above sea level) that converge into a 130 m deep well connected with the diversion tunnel that transports the water first to the hydroelectric power plant then to the purifier located a little further downstream.
The regional aqueduct has a 33-km-long main pipe that can transport 3000 litres per second.
It is managed by Romagna Acque S.p.A. and it reaches 50 municipalities in the provinces of Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena, Rimini and the Republic of San Marino. 

Very important features of the dam are the 8 rectangular gaps at the height of the crest and below the accessible road. They allow the overflow in the central part of the dam; an event that always attracts many tourists and curious ones. When this happens, 600 square metres per second of water pour out to the stilling basin located at the base of the dam.

A beautiful hiking trail will take you all around the dam, passing through the famous Lama, a beautiful plateau at 700 m.a.s.l., surrounded by woods of Turkey oaks, firs, ashes, lime trees and hornbeams. Besides the trail you can also enjoy a boat ride on an electric boat, or visit IDRO, the museum about Ridracoli’s waters, appreciated also by the youngest.

**For further information or organising a hiking, please do not hesitate to contact our staff!