Itineraries beetween Art, Nature and Food - Unione Pedemontana Parmense

Discovering the famous Food Valley of Parma territory, suggestioned itineraries through history, arts, nature and gastronomy.

1. ROMANIC TOUR

Historical tour through the Romanic places in the area. The churches were stages on the Via Francigena for the pilgrims who travelled the variant 19 bis ( Winter walk).

La Pieve di Sant’Ilario Baganza 
Loc. Sant’Ilario – Felino (Map)

The Church was originally built between 11th and 12th centuries as a crape for pilgrim shelter.

La Pieve di San Biagio 
Loc. Talignano - Sala Baganza  (Map)

This church was established around mid 1100 by the Cistercians order. The Church romanesque style appears from the gabled facade and the squared bell tower. The most important artistic element  at the Church external is on the top of the main entrance gate, it is a stone lunette called  Psicostasi (the soul  weighting),  one of the few examples existing in Italy.

The Church is surrounded by the magnific Parco of  Boschi di Carrega.

La Chiesa di San Prospero
Collecchio (Map)

Originally built in romanic style in the 11th century along the Via francigena. The first still existing documents that mention the church date back only to 1230; in this period eight other churches in the district depended on the parish.

Lunch break

Parco fluviale del Taro (Link) 

The river Taro parks: walk until the Oppiano church, Corte di Giarola, Strada Giarola 11 - Collecchio (Map)

The parks extend along the Taro river. It is a very important protected area, since it is a migration route and nesting place for many bird species. 

HOW: availability for guided tours at the Churches. Referent I.A.T - Tourist Information Office, +39 0521.331342/43 - Email:  iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it

2. EXCELLENCIES... AT MUSEUM AND BEYOND

Itinerary through three Museums dedicated to typical top food products: Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Salem di Felino e Vini dei Colli di Parma

First Itinerary

Museo del Salame (Link) 
C/o Castello di Felino, loc. Barbiano (Map)

The history of one of the most important and famous products of  Parma finds a place inside the ancient kitchens and food pantries of the Felino Castle. A 360° travel in the salami culture.

Guided tour to a Prosciutto di Parma factory

Lunch break

Museo del Vino (Link) 
C/o Rocca Sanvitale di Sala Baganza (Map)

The historic cellars of the Sala Castle host the Museum of wine, a travel from the origins of wine in History to the production in the hills of Parma. One of the typical grape variety called Malvasia di Candia has origins in the hills of Sala Baganza.

Guided tour to a local winery in Sala Baganza

HOW: possibility to book the guided tour of the Wine Museum and Salame Museum. Guided tours in factories must be agreed in advance. Referent I.A.T- Tourist Information Office, +39 0521.331342/43 - Email:  iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it

Second Itinerary

Visit in a Parmigiano – Reggiano dairy

The visit starts early in the morning to see the whole cheese making process.

Museo della Pasta (Link) e del Pomodoro (Link) 

Corte di Giarola, Strada Giarola 11 - Collecchio (Map)                      

The ancient Court of Giarola host the two museums which show you history of pasta and tomato through objects, images, machinery and advertising related to them.

Lunch break

Museo Ettore Guatelli (Link)
Loc. Ozzano Taro - Collecchio (Map) 

The objects kept in the Guatelli museum bear witness to the common history of men and women 'of the age of bread', when farm work gave substance to the profound bond between humans and life.

Guided visit to a local winery in the area

HOW: availabilty for guided tours in the Museums upon reservation. Guided tours in factories must be agreed in advance. Referent I.A.T- Tourist Information Office, +39 0521.331342/43 - Email:  iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it

3. "SUDDEN TOUR" (Without any reservation on weekdays )

Rocca Sanvitale (Link)
Piazza Gramsci, 1 - Sala Baganza (Map)

The castle was the noble residence of three important families, Sanvitale, Farnese and Borbone. It preserves sixteenth-century frescoes, grotesques and mythological episodes.

Museo del Vino (Link) 
C/o Rocca Sanvitale - Piazza Gramsci, 1 - Sala Baganza (Map)

The historic cellars of the Sala Castle host the Museum of wine, a travel from the origino f wine in History to the production in the hills of Parma. One of the typical grape variety called Malvasia di Candia has origins in the hills of Sala Baganza.

Lunch break

Fondazione Magnani Rocca (Link) 
Via Fondazione Magnani Rocca, 4 -Mamiano di Traversetolo (Map)

The masterpieces villa is the result of the passion of  collector Luigi Magnani. The villa is now a museum with a rich collection of masterpieces from 1300 to 1900, including the famous Francisco Goya’s painting 'The Family of the Infante Don Luis'.

Museo Renato Brozzi (Link)

Via Fratelli Cantini 8, Traversetolo (Map)

The small but prestigious museum offers a glimpse into the art and life of Renato Brozzi (Traversetolo 1885-1963), a local sculptor, engraver and goldsmith.

Exposition of paintings and sculptures in Liberty and Decò Art.

Guided visit to a local winery 

HOW: availabilty for guided tours in the Museums upon reservation. Guided tours in factories must be agreed in advance. Referent I.A.T- tourist information office, +39 0521.331342/43 Email:  iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it

4. NATURALISTIC ITINERARIES

1. Monumental……trees and villas

Parco dei Boschi di Carrega  (Link)
Loc. Case Nuove, via Olma – Sala Baganza (Map)

It safeguards a woody hill area of great natural, historical and cultural interest. The beautiful landscape shows woods alternating with stable meadows and arable lands crossed by many brooks and small artificial sheets of water created for landscape and irrigation purposes between the late 1800s and the early 1900s.

Walking in the park: leave the car in the parking of Ponte Verde, continue on the path reaching the Casinetto and the Casino dei Boschi ( the villas in the park), take right for the Grotta Lake e continue to del Svizzera Lake. Come back.

There are many paths in the Park, which are different because of difficulty and length.

It is recommended to contact IAT Sala or the offices of the Parco dei Boschi di Carrega.

Lunch break  – at the equipped area in via Case Nuove or at the accommodations in the town

Rocca Sanvitale (Link)
Piazza Gramsci, 1 - Sala Baganza (Map)

The castle was the noble residence of three important families, Sanvitale, Farnese and Borbone. It preserves sixteenth-century frescoes, grotesques and mythological episodes.

Museo del Vino (Link)
C/o Rocca Sanvitale - Piazza Gramsci, 1 - Sala Baganza (Map)

The historic cellars of the Sala Castle host the Museum of wine, a travel from the origino f wine in History to the production in the hills of Parma. One of the typical grape variety called Malvasia di Candia has origins in the hills of Sala Baganza.

Information: IAT Sala, +39 0521.331342/43 - Email iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it.

2. History and Art along the river

Parco Fluviale del Taro (Link)
Corte di Giarola, Strada Giarola 11 - Collecchio (Map) 

The parks extend along the Taro river. It is a very important protected area, since it is a migration route and nesting place for many bird species. 

Walking in the Park: starting from the Corte di Giarola you can walk through the park along the river. Ring route crossing Via delle farfalle up to Oppiano and then back.

Lunch break

Museo della Pasta (Link) e del Pomodoro (Link) 
Corte di Giarola, Strada Giarola 11 - Collecchio (Map)                                      

The ancient Court of Giarola host two museums where you can learn about the history of pasta and tomato tank to the objects, images, machinery and advertising related to them.

Museo Ettore Guatelli (Link)
Loc. Ozzano Taro - Collecchio (Map) 

The objects kept in the Guatelli museum bear witness to the common history of men and women “of the age of bread”, when farm work gave substance to the profound bond between humans and life.

HOW: availabilty for guided tours in the Museums and in the park upon reservation. Referent I.A.T - Tourist Information Office, +39 0521.331342/43 - Email: iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it.

Art and  Nature

Area naturalistica di Cronovilla (Link) 

Loc. Vignale di Traversetolo (Map)

A naturalistic area with humid zones rich of aquatic vegetation and animals, mostly birds. Have been registered 188 species of birds, an extraordinary wealth of biodiversity.

Museo Renato Brozzi (Link) 
Via Fratelli Cantini 8, Traversetolo (Map)

The small but prestigious museum offers a glimpse into the art and life of Renato Brozzi (Traversetolo 1885-1963), a local sculptor, engraver and goldsmith.

Exposition of paintings and sculptures in Liberty and Decò Art

Lunch Break

Fondazione Magnani Rocca (Link) 
Via Fondazione Magnani Rocca, 4 -Mamiano di Traversetolo (Map)

The masterpieces villa is the result of the passion of  collector Luigi Magnani. The villa is now a museum with a rich collection of masterpieces from 1300 to 1900, including the famous Francisco Goya’s painting “ The Family of the Infante Don Luis”.

A great garden surrounds the villa.

HOW: availabilty for guided tours in the Museums and in the park upon reservation. Referent I.A.T - Tourist Information Office, +39 0521.331342/43 - Email: iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it.