Centro Turistico Valbonella, Bagno di Romagna
The camp location is not incidental to the Speak Teens experience — it is part of it. Valbonella sits in the heart of the Tuscan-Romagnol Apennines, at the edge of the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, at an altitude that keeps temperatures comfortable even in July.
This guide covers the facility, the natural environment, the activities it enables and the practical information families need to know about getting there.
The facility
Centro Turistico Valbonella is a purpose-built residential centre used exclusively by Speak Teens for the duration of each camp. During camp weeks, no other groups are on site.
The facility includes:
- Multi-bed rooms with en-suite bathrooms, divided by age and gender
- A large restaurant serving full board, with local cuisine
- Natural and synthetic sports pitches
- An outdoor swimming pool
- An astronomy platform for evening sessions
- A botanical garden
- Indoor and outdoor spaces for lessons, workshops and evening events
Rooms are allocated by gender and age group. Welfare staff sleep in the same corridors as students.
The natural environment
Valbonella is surrounded by forest — the Foreste Casentinesi, one of the most extensive ancient forests in Italy. The camp sits at approximately 800 metres above sea level, which keeps the air cool and the landscape green even in mid-July.
The natural setting is not just scenery. It is the backdrop for the camp’s outdoor activities: forest walks, the Team Challenge course and the full-day forest adventure park excursion that takes place during the week.
Activities at and around Valbonella
The camp programme is built around the location:
- Sports. Football, volleyball, basketball and other team sports on the facility’s natural and synthetic pitches, with Teen Anglos on every team.
- Swimming. Use of the outdoor pool during scheduled free periods.
- Astronomy. An evening session on the camp’s astronomy platform, guided in English.
- Walk with Wolves. A guided walk in the national park, in English throughout.
- Team Challenge. A structured outdoor team-building day, designed to generate natural English communication under time pressure.
- Full-day forest adventure park excursion. A full day at a forest adventure park in the national park — the most memorable day for most students.
- Evening events. Quiz nights, cultural evenings, music sessions and other activities that extend into the evening in a relaxed setting.
Getting to Valbonella
Bagno di Romagna is accessible by car (approximately 1.5 hours from Bologna or Florence), by train to Cesena or Forlì followed by a local bus, or via the Speak Teens transfer service from designated collection points.
Full transfer information — including pick-up points, times and costs — is provided to families after booking.
Exclusive use. No distractions. Just the camp.
During Speak Teens camp weeks, the entire Valbonella facility is reserved for us. No other guests, no other groups. The English Bubble is total: from the moment students arrive to the moment they leave, the site belongs to the camp.
That exclusivity is a deliberate choice. It means every person a student encounters at the facility is part of the same experience — and English is the language of every interaction, with no way out.
Practical information
Address: Centro Turistico Valbonella, Loc. Valbonella, 47021 Bagno di Romagna (FC), Italy.
Altitude: approximately 800 m above sea level.
Nearest towns: Bagno di Romagna (8 km), Santa Sofia (12 km).
Nearest major cities: Forlì (60 km), Bologna (110 km), Florence (110 km).
Camp 1 runs 3–10 July 2027. Camp 2 runs 10–17 July 2027. Both are 8 days, 7 nights, full board, exclusive use of Valbonella.
