Reggio Emilia for families

Located in a beautifully restored industrial space, this center is a temple of creativity. It is the birthplace of the Reggio Emilia Approach, an educational philosophy that views every child as a natural researcher with "a hundred languages" to express themselves.

To do

Don't expect a traditional school; the Center is a labyrinth of light and discovery. You can explore interactive exhibitions showcasing projects from Reggio’s schools or participate in Open Ateliers. Here, children can manipulate natural materials, play with reflections on "light tables," or create digital art. It’s the perfect place to understand why Reggio Emilia is considered the most kid-friendly city in the world.

To know

The center is named after Loris Malaguzzi, the teacher who, alongside local parents after WWII, built the first schools using bricks salvaged from bombed houses, creating a world-renowned educational standard.

Tip

Check the official website for "Sundays at the Center," special openings for families featuring specific workshops.

Heading into the historic center, the Musei Civici of Reggio are famous for remaining "museums of museums," preserving the 19th-century charm of a cabinet of curiosities.

Must-see

At Palazzo dei Musei, prepare for an encounter with the Sperm Whale. This sea giant, stranded in the 1800s on the Adriatic coast, is now the museum's icon, welcoming children into an atmosphere suspended between science and legend. Afterward, dive into the Regium Lepidi Project 2200: using augmented reality, you can virtually walk the streets of Roman Reggio.

Curiosity

Did you know the Italian flag is a "Reggio native"? At the Tricolore Museum, located inside the Town Hall, you can see the very first versions of the flag born in 1797. To make the visit lighter for kids, look for the Tricolore Comic: an illustrated guide that turns historical relics into characters of a patriotic adventure.

After a morning of culture, it's time to get moving. Reggio’s province offers untouched nature just a few miles from the ducal palaces.

To do

• The Vezzano sul Crostolo Ecopark is the ideal choice for a stress-free afternoon. It is a protected area where animals live in large enclosures respecting their natural habitat. You can follow stroller-friendly trails and spot fallow deer, ostriches, roe deer, and majestic stags. 
• For a "slower" experience, head to Rodano Park just outside the city for donkey-trekking: children learn patience and gentleness while walking alongside friendly donkeys.

Tip

If you love rural life, check the Educational Farms (Fattorie Didattiche) website: you can book a snack at a farm, learn to bake bread, or discover how to tend a vegetable garden alongside local farmers.

Day two starts early with the scent of fresh milk. Visiting a dairy is a sensory experience children will never forget.

To taste and see

You will witness the transformation of milk into Parmigiano Reggiano. It’s thrilling to see the cheesemaker use ancient, precise gestures to "fish" the curd from the bottom of copper vats using linen cloths. You’ll also see the "vaults": massive warehouses where thousands of cheese wheels age in silence.

To know

Tours usually begin around 8:00 or 8:30 AM because the cheese is made only once a day, using the evening and morning milkings. Booking is mandatory!

Head to the hills to meet the most powerful woman of the Middle Ages: the Great Countess Matilde di Canossa.

To see

• Bianello Castle: a fairytale fortress that looks like it belongs in a storybook. Guided tours often feature costumed characters telling tales of banquets and ancient knights.
• Rossena Castle: built on a red volcanic rock, it is a formidable example of military architecture. The view over the plains from here is infinite.
• Canossa Castle: though mostly in ruins today, the charm of the site where Emperor Henry IV stood barefoot in the snow to beg the Pope's forgiveness remains powerful. There is a small museum reconstructing life in the castle.
• Carpineti Castle: an imposing fortress known as the "New Rome." Walking through its cyclopean walls makes you feel small yet brave.

After the castles, it's time for some pure fun. Let's head to Monte Fosola for an "oversized" experience.

Curiosity

Big Benches were created to help us rediscover the wonder of childhood, when our legs dangled from the seat. The one on Monte Fosola is No. 58, painted in vibrant orange and green.

Technical data

To reach it, follow an easy path of about 20-30 minutes through chestnut groves. The slope is gentle, and the final reward is a 360° panorama encompassing the Apennines and the Pietra di Bismantova. Don't forget to stamp your "Big Bench Passport"!

Day three is dedicated to self-challenge in the heart of the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park.

Cerwood is Italy's largest adventure park, offering over 220 suspended games among ancient beech trees:

• Adventure paths: 27 variations divided by color (from "Baby" paths for kids 100cm tall to "Black" paths for athletic parents).
• Jump area: experience the thrill of a free fall in total safety.
• Minigolf and archery: for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground.
• Picnic area: a large area under the shade of beech trees to enjoy local products bought nearby.

End your trip on a high note in front of a lime rock giant that looks like it fell from the sky. The Pietra di Bismantova is the soul of the Reggian mountains.

To know

On summer weekends, the road is closed to private cars, but the Bismantino, a free shuttle, runs between Castelnovo ne' Monti and the Pietra. It’s the most eco-friendly and fun way to reach your destination!

Tip

Don't be intimidated by the vertical walls: the trail to the summit starts at the Hermitage square and is a roughly 20-minute walk suitable for children used to walking. At the top, you’ll find a massive grassy plateau, a natural "terrace" mentioned by Dante in his Purgatory.