Ten Years of Wellness Week: A Record-Breaking Edition Kicks Off

Wellness Week is back – the week dedicated to movement and healthy lifestyles, running from September 23 to 30, 2025, celebrates its tenth edition. A major milestone for the initiative launched in 2015 by the Wellness Foundation and co-promoted by the Emilia-Romagna Region, with the support of the University of Bologna and the Regional School Office, made possible thanks to the collaboration of Technogym and a wide network of public and private organizations, facilities and players across the Wellness Valley.

Once again this year, Sports and Fitness, Outdoor Activities, Healthy Eating, Mental and Physical Wellbeing, and Wellness Culture will be at the heart of Wellness Week, for a record-breaking edition that will bring to life 40 municipalities across Romagna, from the coast to the hills: in fact, 500 free activities will be offered by more than 130 stakeholders, with the goal of spreading the culture of wellness as a tool for health, prevention, and social cohesion.

The full calendar of events is available on the dedicated app (link), where participants can book activities directly from their smartphones and access free training programs in the weeks that follow – a concrete way to keep an active lifestyle all year round.

“It’s a great satisfaction to see Wellness Week grow year after year, involving more and more professionals and organizations: a strong alliance to promote healthy lifestyles through wellbeing, prevention, and the Romagna way of good living. This is the spirit in which the Wellness Valley was born, and I want to thank all the people who, since 2003, have believed in the project and worked to make Romagna a true benchmark in health promotion. The results are clear, and many regions around the world are now looking to our model as inspiration for a healthier, more sustainable future.” – Nerio Alessandri, Founder and President of the Wellness Foundation and Technogym

Wellness Week – coinciding with the European Week of Sport – kicked off on September 23 with an inaugural event in Cesena at the Biblioteca Malatestiana. Speakers included Enzo Lattuca, Mayor of Cesena; Nerio Alessandri, President of Wellness Foundation and Technogym; Roberta Frisoni, Regional Councillor for Tourism, Trade and Sport, Emilia-Romagna Region; Massimo Fabi, Regional Councillor for Health Policies, Emilia-Romagna; Lorenzo Menicanti and Fabrizia Lattanzio of the IRCCS Cardiology Network; Andrea Dovizioso, MotoGP rider; Dimitri Bisoli and Massimiliano Mangraviti of Cesena Football Club; and Federica Mosconi, Teleromagna.

It was an opportunity to discuss sport, wellbeing and quality of life – top priorities for the Municipality of Cesena and the Emilia-Romagna Region, widely recognized as a leader in health promotion. The event also celebrated the European Week of Sport and #BEACTIVEDAY, a day established by EuropeActive and supported by the European Commission to promote healthy, active lifestyles on a large scale.

The tenth edition of Wellness Week places a special focus on cardiovascular prevention, thanks to the partnership between the Wellness Foundation and the IRCCS Cardiology Network of the Italian Ministry of Health, which is coordinating CVrisk-IT, the largest national primary cardiovascular prevention project launched in Italy. The initiative will culminate on September 29 with the celebration of World Heart Day, together with the World Heart Federation.

Among the highlights of the program:

LAB – Cardiovascular Risk Assessment (Cesena Hippodrome Club – Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September): within the framework of the CVrisk-IT study led by the Cardiology Network, healthy citizens aged 40 to 80 with no history of cardiovascular disease (and cholesterol tests carried out in the past six months) can receive a personalized cardiovascular risk assessment, managed by the IRCCS INRCA of Ancona.

Over 30 events promoted by AUSL Romagna across the region, aimed at both staff and the public, encouraging the adoption of a healthy, active lifestyle: prevention open days, conferences, information sessions, health promotion clinics, walks, children’s activities in libraries, introductory yoga classes, nutrition workshops for new parents, and courses for walking leaders.

Presentation of the book “Nel cuore degli altri” by Gabriele Bronzetti – Biblioteca Malatestiana, Cesena, Sunday, September 28.

Technogym master trainers’ activations at the outdoor Technogym islands along the Rimini seafront (Saturday 27) and Cervia-Milano Marittima (Sunday 28), plus a revitalizing Pilates session on Rimini’s free beach (Saturday 27).

Easy Run: the inclusive charity run starting from Rimini, with 16km and 8km routes.

Poderino for Women, in the heart of the Romagna hills: a day dedicated entirely to women, with outdoor activities, self-care, and healthy eating.

Cesena in Wellness, the big celebration at the Hippodrome Club, marking the outdoor movement season in the heart of the city.

Not to be missed, Wellness Valley Cammina, the traditional event bringing together walking groups from across Romagna, this year featuring a special “revival” of the Cesena Cammina group, on September 29 for World Heart Day.

As always, the strong commitment of primary and secondary schools, which – in addition to joining calendar events – will involve children and students in wellness activities during class time, with Sensory Walks in the pine forest of Milano Marittima and sessions of play and sports at school throughout the week.