Riserva naturale della Valle dell'Inferno e Bandella, Regional nature reserve in Province of Arezzo, Italy

The Riserva naturale della Valle dell'Inferno e Bandella is a protected area along the Arno in the Valdarno, within the basin of the ENEL Levane hydroelectric plant. Its core is a stretch of the Arno flowing through the Valle dell'Inferno, 5 to 15 metres deep, and the Ansa di Bandella, a marsh formed in the Ascione torrent's valley and beside the lake created by the late-1950s dam. Oak woods, mainly roverella, cover the slopes.

The dam at Levane was built at the end of the 1950s for hydroelectric power, creating the lake that submerged part of the valley floor. Before it, the Arno ran fast and dangerous through a deeply cut gorge; boatmen and rafts called foderi carried timber from the Casentino forests to Florence. A legend says Dante met a ferryman named Caronte here, inspiring the Divine Comedy.

The name Valle dell'Inferno predates the dam: the Arno ran fast and dangerous through a deeply cut gorge, and boatmen used foderi, rafts carrying timber from the Casentino forests to Florence. A legend says Dante met a ferryman named Caronte here, inspiring the Divine Comedy. Near the Borro di Ricavo confluence, an unverified story tells of a rock sculpture remembering three young people drowned at a spot called "gli affogati".

The Monticello Visitor Center offers guided tours, and marked paths allow independent exploration of the reserve. The best times for bird watching are spring and fall, when many species migrate through the area.

The Bandella wetlands host numerous bird species throughout the year, including herons, egrets, and kingfishers that hunt in the shallow waters. This rich diversity attracts bird watchers and offers surprisingly good chances to spot rare species.