Immersed in the nature of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines or located on the banks of the River Po, a series of fascinating places becomes the starting point for this authentic journey back in time, through some of the most beautiful villages in Italy in the provinces of Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia: places that preserve practically intact the signs of a past indelibly inscribed on the stones of streets, palaces and castles.
Located in the immediate vicinity of the right bank of the Po, Gualtieri boasts medieval origins but is best known for its stunning Renaissance development, epitomized by the spectacular square designed by Giovan Battista Aleotti, overlooked by the Clock Tower, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria della Neve, and Palazzo Bentivoglio.
To visit
Palazzo Bentivoglio is a treasure trove of surprises, such as the Sala dei Giganti and the Sala di Icaro —which house stage costumes from the collection of theatrical costume designer Umberto Tirelli and painting cycles by artists such as De Chirico and Guttuso —or the Antonio Ligabue Museum, dedicated to one of Italy’s most famous naïve painters , who lived in Gualtieri for much of his artistic career and died there in 1965.
As is often the case with villages that seem to have been preserved under a medieval glass dome, Montechiarugolo, too, is organized around its majestic castle.
Its inclusion in the select group of Italian municipalities capable of showcasing their historical heritage—in terms of urban layout and architecture—does justice to a place of undeniable charm, believed to have been founded around the 10th century and, according to legend, haunted by the ghost of the fairy Bema.
First documented as a fortified village in the 11th century, Compiano - —along with nearby Bardi —boasts a brief period in history as an institutional territorial state, a status likely facilitated by its role as a defensive strongholdof the Upper Taro Valley.
Needless to say, in this context, the true star of the village is the castle, proudly built on a rocky outcrop and designed as an impregnable fortress surrounded by the town, where noble palaces and tower houses alternate in an architectural competition for dominance over the characteristic sloping streets.
All around, the fortress walls serve as a protective enclosure for a layout whose central square offers a privileged panoramic view of the valley.
Walking through the streets of Castell'Arquato means making a pact with the calendar and forgetting not only the year but even our own era, which seems absent from the views and architecture that have remained unchanged for centuries.
The village clings to a hill whose highest point is home to the square featuring the Palazzo del Podestà and the Collegiate Church, where the baptismal font and the western portico bear witness to the numerous renovations carried out over the centuries.
The Rocca Viscontea (immortalized on the big screen in several scenes from the film *Ladyhawke*) and the Torrione Farnese help bring to life the memory of the Sforza family’s glorious past.
Must see
The birthplace of the great librettist Luigi Illica, it is now home to the museum dedicated to him.
A blend of stylistic elements ranging from the Baroque to the Renaissance, the Pieve di San Giorgio is one of the iconic architectural landmarks that justify Vigoleno's inclusion in the club of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages.
The crenellated walls that encircle it seem to embrace and protect the age-old elegance of a picturesque town center overlooking the Stirone Valley, with the square keep of a legendary castle—where figures of the caliber of Gabriele D’Annunzio, Max Ernst, and Jean Cocteau were guests of Duchess Maria Ruspoli Grammont Hugo.
Amid a network of streets and alleys steeped in history and legend, Bobbio traces its history back to the Abbey of San Colombano, an imposing structure with Gothicand late Renaissance styles, founded by Abbot Agilulfo in the early 7th century and serving as the stone guardian of the extraordinary painted decorations created by Bernardino Lanzani of San Colombano al Lambro.
Nestled in the lush and ever-changing natural setting of the Trebbia Valley, the “Village of Villages” also boasts elegant civic landmarks such as Malaspina Castle and that architectural gem known as the Ponte Vecchio, a fascinating and multi-layered monument to humanity’s timeless ingenuity.
