Parma Apennines - Appennino parmense

Parma Apennines

State	Italy
Region	Emilia Romagna

Parma Apennines is a region ofItaly.

To know

It is an area of castles and Romanesque churches, of mountain lakes and renowned porcini mushrooms, of ancient villages that have been saved from depopulation thanks to the tourism of climatic stays and winter sports.

Geographical notes

It extends between Liguria is Tuscany to the south, the Parma Po Valley to the north, Piacenza hills to the west and Reggio Apennines East. Its main valleys are the Val Taro, the Val Parma, the Enza Valley; its streams are all tributaries of the Po.

Background

The whole Apennine area that revolves around the city of Parma was part of his Duchy; previously there developed some feudal possessions, even quite extensive, of families such as the Rossi, the Landi, the Pallavicino, to whom we owe the proliferation of mountain castles.

Territories and tourist destinations

Urban centers

Berceto - Last center of the Val Taro before the Cisa Pass and the border with Tuscany it was an important stage of the via Francigena in the past, but it is also now that the route has long since been restored for those who love to renew ancient pilgrimages: punctual signs along the way and information signs offer the right support to moderns pilgrims-hikers. The city offers the visitor the important Cathedral of San Moderà, of Romanesque foundation with alterations in other styles, but in any case of a Romanesque overall aspect. The remains of the castle speak of its not only religious but also military past. Last but not least, the offer of refreshments and tastings of good gastronomic products is more than satisfactory, in the context of a luxuriant nature and pleasant landscapes. .
Borgo Val di Taro - It is the most populous center in the valley. Its historic core, once surrounded by walls, preserves a good number of buildings of good quality and of considerable historical and architectural interest, which embrace a temporal arch from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century: Palazzo Bertucci, Palazzo Boveri, Palazzo Manara, Palazzo Tardiati, Picenardi Palace, Moglia House, Cassio House. Part of its territory constitutes, with an area of the territory of Albareto, the Ghirardi Regional Nature Reserve, which is one of the protected natural areas of the Emilia-Romagna region. Its establishment dates back to 2010 and has an area of 370 hectares. It is possible to hike and walk in its woods. You can practice sport fishing (Arctic S.P.S. and Lake Willy), canoeing, hunting, hang gliding; there is a riding school. .
Corniglio - It is the capital of the upper Val Parma, a summer resort with a consolidated family tourism for decades. In its historic center stands the Castle, used and well preserved, which was one of the many manors of the Rossi family. Its territory also offers the possibility of mountain excursions and winter sports, the starting point of which is above all the hamlet of Bosco, from which you can easily reach the lakes area, Lake Santo with the Mariotti refuge, the two Lagoni , Lake Scuro between 1300 and 1500 meters above sea level.
Fornovo di Taro - Station of the ancient via Francigena it preserves the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta which represents one of the most important places of worship of Romanesque origin which is abundant in the Parma Apennine area. The town now has a good tourist activity especially in summer and boasts a good food and wine production like the other centers of the valley.

Other destinations

Magnani-Rocca Foundation - The villa of masterpieces, a few kilometers from Traversetolo, collects works by famous artists such as Goya, Canova, Burri and many others (The foundation site).
Torrechiara - Known for the mighty and spectacular Castle built by Pier Maria Rossi for Bianca Pellegrini, it is located on the first Apennine reliefs, where the Parma Po valley ripples to become a hill, 18 km from Parma.
Vosina - Fraction of Bar of, it's a ghost city.

Itineraries

Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza - Scattered over the Parma and Piacenza Apennines, but also present in the plain to guard the natural border of the Po, the numerous castles of the ancient Duchy of Parma and Piacenza characterize the whole area. Originally military bulwarks, many of them have gradually transformed their war nature into a refined noble residence and over time perpetuate the atmosphere of fairytale and legend that has always been linked to castles, in many of which the presence of spirits is told and ghosts.

How to get

By plane

They are airports in the region:

44.821810.296031 Parma airport (G. Verdi), Via Emilia - Golese locality, ☎ 39 0521 951511. The closest one
44.5352811.291162 Bologna airport (G.Marconi), Via Triumvirato 84, ☎ 39 051 6479615.