Aqua~Media International Ltd is the publisher of The International Journal on Hydropower and Dams, and the organizer of the HYDRO, ASIA and AFRICA event series.
+44 (0)20 8773 7244
- 14-16 October 2026
- Bologna, Italy
Study Tours
Pre- and post-conference technical study tours have been arranged to Italian dams and hydro plants, in conjunction with Edison, and the Italian National Committee of ICOLD. Cultural visits will be included with each.
Pre-conference Tour A
11-13 October 2026
Tour A will begin on the evening of Sunday, 11 October in Milan, where participants will meet for dinner together (hotel to be confirmed shortly).
Monday, 12 October 2026: Pontremoli (Massa-Carrara Province)
08:00 (approximately): Departure from Milan, for a coach journey of approximately 2.5 hours, stopping en route for refreshments.- Arrival at Pontremoli, in Tuscany, followed by a 1 hour visit to Edison’s Teglia hydropower plant. The Teglia plant, commissioned in two stages (1935 and 1953), draws water from the Magriola, Verde, Bettigna, Pilacca, Lanza, Gordana, Marziola, and Mezzemola streams across a 118 km² catchment area. The plant has a licensed flow rate of 5.4 m³/s, with nominal heads of 150.5 m and 35.3 m for the two stages.
- The second visit will be to the Rocchetta dam and hydro plant. The Rocchetta station, commissioned in 1940, has one Kaplan turbine with a capacity of 3.6 MW. The dam is 76 m high, with a crest length of approximately 136 m.
- Lunch will be followed by a walk through the ancient, picturesque village of Pontremoli, a charming medieval town in northern Tuscany. Pontremoli is known for its historic stone streets, beautiful bridges, and impressive Piagnaro Castle which overlooks the town.
- 17:00 (approximately): Departure for Milan.
- 19:30 (approximately): Arrival back at the hotel in Milan for dinner and a second overnight stay.
Tuesday, 13 October 2026: Cornate d’Adda (Monza and Brianza Province)
- 09:00 (approximately): Departure from Milan for a one-hour coach jou
rney. - Arrival at Cornate d’Adda for a visit to the Bertini plant, one of Europe’s and the world’s oldest hydropower plants. In operation for more than a century, the Bertini plant was inducted into the Hydro Hall of Fame in 2023, in recognition of its long-standing contribution to renewable generation.
- The second visit of the day will be to the Esterle hydropower plant, located on the right bank of the Adda river. The plant is renowned for its architectural style, and features ornate details, floral and geometric motifs, wrought-iron features, and Gothic-style windows. Modernized between 1998-2000, the Esterle plant has retained its original design and distinctive interior character.
- Lunch.
- Departure to Bologna, stopping en route for refreshments.
Please note: The main transport will be a minibus or coach; to reach some of the sites delegates will transfer to smaller vehicles (mini vans or cars).
All the visits will be accompanied by an English speaking guide. Edison will give briefings at the sites, and accompany the various visits.
TOUR B
Saturday, 17 October 2026
After breakfast, depart Bologna by coach to begin the day’s tour.
Technical visit to the Capaccio Control Centre
The group will be welcomed at the Capaccio Control Centre, where engineers and technical staff from Romagna Acque will introduce the monitoring and operational management of the Ridracoli water system. The visit will include:
- the data processing centre;
- the main control room; and,
- a technical presentation and discussion with Romagna Acque specialists.
Ridracoli dam
Transfer to 103.5 m-high Ridracoli dam on the Bidente river, one of the most significant hydraulic engineering works in the Emilia-Romagna region. Construction began in 1975 and was completed in 1982. It is a double-curvature concrete arch-gravity structure with a crest length of 432 m. The reservoir , with a capacity of 33 x 106 m3 supplies drinking water to most of Romagna and the Republic of San Marino. The technical visit will include:
- viewing of the guard house, containing the dam monitoring systems and high-precision instrumentation; and,
- a walk across the dam crest, with explanations of the structural design, construction history and engineering characteristics of the dam.
At the end of the visit, participants will have a networking aperitif at the nearby kiosk.
Lunch
Lunch will be arranged at Ristorante Il Palazzo, located in the village of Ridracoli, offering a traditional Romagna menu based on local products.
Exclusive visit to the internal inspection galleries
In the afternoon, participants will have an exclusive guided visit inside the dam, accessing the inspection galleries. Participants will have a chance to see:
- the inverted pendulum;
- the monitoring instrumentation;
- other technical systems used to ensure the dam’s structural safety and long-term performance.
Optional visit: IDRO Water Ecomuseum
Subject to the overall schedule, the programme may also include a visit to IDRO – Water Ecomuseum, which illustrates the relationship between water resources, engineering, the environment and the territory through interactive exhibitions and educational displays. Should time be limited, this can be omitted without affecting the technical content of the day.
17:30-18:00 (approximately): Return to Bologna.