Villages near Parma, small jewels just steps from the city

Ancient small worlds of the Lower Po Valley less than an hour from Parma

Parma enchants with the refined elegance of its center, but also with the beauty of its surroundings.

Ancient small worlds characterized by scents and flavors of the past, a slow-paced life, and a rich historical and artistic heritage resist the passage of time in the Lower Po Valley, between the plain and the hills.

The villages near Parma fascinate with castles, sanctuaries, villas, mazes, and wonderful landscapes. Here are the most beautiful villages located less than an hour from Parma.

At the foot of the first hills of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Montechiarugolo rises on the left bank of the Enza River, on the border between the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia.

It is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, home to just over 11,000 souls, located in the heart of the Food Valley, known for Italian excellences such as Parma Ham, Black Truffle from Fragno, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Felino Salami.

Its origins date back to the 10th century when the village was formed following the deforestation carried out by the Augustinian monks of the Santa Felicola Abbey.

Over time, the center developed at the foot of the castle and still preserves important traces of the ancient city walls. The castle you can see dates back to the early 15th century: at the request of the Torelli family, the military stronghold with battlements, loopholes, drawbridges, and walkways took on the appearance it has today.

Inside, richly furnished and decorated rooms testify to the ancient splendor of the castle and the power of those who lived there.

Then let yourself be told the legend of the fairy Bema, a young girl born towards the end of the 1500s, endowed with magical powers, who would protect the castle of Montechiarugolo.

It is said that every May 19th the woman wanders through the halls of the palace, mourning her lost love Pio Torelli. The parish church of San Quintino, rebuilt in the early 20th century based on the original Romanesque church, which houses valuable works and a series of frescoes from the late 15th century, is worth a visit.

In the immediate vicinity is the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Oratory of Romito. Finally, don't miss the historic Terme Borrini, located in Monticelli Terme, famous for their salsobromoiodic waters and therapeutic treatments.

Fontanellato is the name of "large fountain." The town is located in the so-called Lower Parmense, just 5 km from the Emilia Road, between the Taro and Stirone rivers.

Fontanellato gained fame thanks to the Sanvitale family from the late 1300s, who left their most evident mark in the fortress.

Located at the center of the main square, the fortress symbolizes Fontanellato. The imposing stronghold, erected in the 14th century on a pre-existing 12th-century building, over the centuries has been transformed into a residence for the Sanvitale counts, who inhabited it for about six centuries.

Open year-round, the fortress offers guided tours of the furnished rooms, from the splendid room of Diana and Actaeon, frescoed by Parmigianino, to the optical chamber. Don't miss the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, built in 1514, which attracts numerous pilgrims throughout the year. While wandering around the town, you will also see the Oratory of the Assumption with its wooden sacristy from 1720; the Municipal Theatre, personally designed by Alessandro Sanvitale but completely demolished in 1832, with the current structure dating back to the 19th century; the former Sanvitale stables; Villa Gandini and the Botanical Park.

Then enjoy the slow life and beauty of Fontanellato, which has been awarded the title of slow city. A short distance from the village, you can finally visit the Labyrinth of Franco Maria Ricci, the largest maze in Europe, welcoming both adults and children on a path over 3 km.

The Labyrinth of Masone also hosts an important art collection and organizes events in its beautiful courtyard.

Another of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy in Emilia-Romagna is Compiano, which rises on a rocky spur along the Taro River.

It is known as the village of wanderers due to many sellers of ink, candles, or "miraculous" ointments, puppeteers, musicians, and artists who left this area for Europe to sell their creations, perform, and showcase in local fairs.

Moreover, it was here that Maria Teresa Alpi founded the Festival of Wandering Artists, dedicated to street performers and those who have made vagrancy a lifestyle.

Today Compiano fascinates with its cobbled streets and uphill paths lined with noble palaces and tower houses. Since the 1500s, the village has been protected by surrounding walls, which also offer a beautiful walk over the valley.

Follow the cobbled road and you will arrive at the square, a suggestive terrace overlooking the Taro, near which stands the Church of San Giovanni Battista, which probably dates back to the Lombard period. Also worth visiting are the ancient Town Hall and courthouse of Compiano, whose façade features a beautiful 17th-century terrace and carries the old prisons, once used for administrative offenses.

Finally, the village is dominated by the castle, a majestic 15th-century structure, built from an ancient Carolingian tower around which the entire fortress developed over the centuries.

Situated on the road connecting Emilia, Tuscany, and Liguria, the castle tells the story of many noble families, including the Landi family, which established the Landi State in these valleys, a realm lasting over 400 years. Under the Duchy of Maria Luigia, the castle later became a state prison where carbonari from the uprisings of 1821 were also imprisoned. In the 1900s it was converted into a girls' school, and then returned to private residence of Countess Gambarotta. It is currently municipal property under private management.

Today sculptures, tapestries, paintings, chimneys, 17th-century floors, and original 15th-century ceilings testify the glory of the past. The castle also hosts the International Masonic Museum.

Busseto is an important agricultural center of the Lower Parmense, an Orange Flag TCI and a village situated about 8 km south of the Po River.

Its name is linked to the figure of Giuseppe Verdi, who was born in the nearby district of Roncole but lived much of his life in Busseto. Thus, starting from the birthplace of the maestro in Roncole, you can then visit the most significant places related to the composer's life.

In Busseto, start at Piazza Verdi, where you can see the bronze monument dedicated to the maestro. In the square, you will see the 13th-century fortress, once the residence of the Pallavicino family and now housing the town hall, the Verdi Theatre, dated between 1856 and 1868, and Casa Barezzi, where the composer lived with his wife Margherita Barezzi.

The house holds numerous relics and testimonies of Verdi's life and career. For a gastronomic break, just steps from Piazza Verdi, you will find the historic Salsamenteria Baratta, opened in 1873, where you can taste cured meats and cheeses along with a glass of local wine, all with the melodies of Verdi in the background.

The famous composer was indeed one of the regular customers of the establishment. Just outside the ancient city walls, you can also find Villa Pallavicino, a beautiful Renaissance residence that now houses the National Museum Giuseppe Verdi.

In its spacious halls, you can see numerous works, reproductions of the original sets from Casa Ricordi and period paintings, exquisite fabrics from the 1800s, and timeless music, among theatrical lights and romantic atmospheres. Additionally, in tribute to the heritage of Italian melodrama, the new Renata Tebaldi museum is located within the ancient stables of Villa Pallavicino, hosting an intriguing exhibition path with objects, costumes, and jewelry belonging to the woman who Arturo Toscanini called "angelic voice," as well as documents, images, and testimonies from famous artists and colleagues of Tebaldi.

In Busseto, it is also worth visiting the 15th-century Collegiate Church of San Bartolomeo, built between 1437 and 1450 at the behest of Orlando Pallavicino the Magnificent, and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, known for its famous sculptural representation of the Piety.

The village rises at the point where the Parma Stream receives the waters of the Lorno Canal, hence the name Colorno which means "at the head of the Lorno." Located north of Parma, Colorno is worth a visit for its majestic Ducal Palace, the summer residence of the Dukes of Parma known as the little Italian

Versailles, once the residence of the Farnese, Bourbons, and Maria Luigia of Austria. The palace was also home to the beautiful Barbara Sanseverino, a charming, intelligent, and highly cultured woman, famous for her beauty that was even honored by the poet Torquato Tasso in a celebrated sonnet.

The monumental Palace of Colorno boasts over 400 rooms, courtyards, and gardens surrounded by a beautiful French garden.

In the small village of Colorno, in addition to the palace, you can visit other significant monuments such as the Orangerie, now home to the Ethnographic Museum of Rural Civilization, the Church of San Liborio, and the Church of Santa Margherita of Gothic origin.

Colorno is also a stop on the Culatello di Zibello Road. Finally, 15 km from Colorno, you can visit the charming village of Brescello, where films inspired by the stories of Giovannino Guareschi featuring Don Camillo and Peppone were filmed.