The Panaro is an Italian river and the final right-hand tributary to the
Po, discounting the
Cavo Napoleonico canal
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface ...
. It runs right across
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna (, , both , ; or ; ) is an Regions of Italy, administrative region of northern Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia (region), Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It has an area of , and a population of 4.4 m ...
in a north-easterly direction: from its source close to the
Apennine watershed, where Emilia-Romagna meets
Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence.
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...
, to its outlet where the Po marks the region's boundary with
Veneto
Veneto, officially the Region of Veneto, is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the Northeast Italy, north-east of the country. It is the fourth most populous region in Italy, with a population of 4,851,851 as of 2025. Venice is t ...
. Its Latin name was ''Scultenna''.
It is long, with a
drainage basin
A drainage basin is an area of land in which all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
; alternating between aridity in summer and fullness in spring and autumn.
Its principal source, the Rio delle Tagliole, rises at Foce a Giovo,
Monte Rondinaio, some south-west of highest peak of the
Tuscan-
Emillian Apennines,
Monte Cimone, elevation . From here it flows down the valley in a northeastern direction. At
Pievepelago (in the
Province of Modena) it changes name to Scoltenna, assuming in the territory of
Pavullo nel Frignano finally that of Panaro. In this area it makes up the border between the communities of Montana del Frignano and Montana dell’appennino Modena Est. Close to
Modena
Modena (, ; ; ; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It has 184,739 inhabitants as of 2025.
A town, and seat of an archbis ...
, it joins the Naviglio de Modena and becomes navigable until its confluence with the Po, a little to the west of
Ferrara
Ferrara (; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, capital of the province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main ...
. It runs through
Vignola,
Finale Emilia and
Bondeno.
Of particular historical and artistic interest is the bridge of Olina, constructed in 1522, crossing the river close to the small town of the same name, in the
commune of
Pavullo nel Frignano
Rivers of Italy
Rivers of Emilia-Romagna
Rivers of the Province of Modena
Rivers of the Province of Ferrara
Rivers of the Apennines
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