Central Lowlands Ringroad

route analysis

This route is mainly on paved roads and town centres, with low difficulty and suitable for all.
You can also follow shorter routes or segments.

Route Length : 27,7 km
Difficulty: low. This route follows country roads and streets with low or no traffic. Pay attention on crossroads and roundabouts.

There are not specific critical points, but we advise you to be very careful while on the road.

Route description

While we look to the horizon, we do not see a mountain, not even a small hill. There is only a horizontal line, dividing the earthly chaos from the quiet blue sky.

We are in the center of the Emilian lowland, or, as we say here "La Bassa", this part of flat land that goes on indefinitely and makes us see everything near, yet so far.

This route brings us in the Reggio Emilia Lowlands heart, among the towns of Correggio, Novellara, Campagnola Emilia and Rio Saliceto, through fields, country roads and quaint villages.

Our route starts from Correggio, the little Capital of this small Dukedom. It is worth a visit the Palazzo dei Principi (Princes' Palace), ancient residence of the Duke and now home to the Correggio Museum, the notorious painter who was born here. Furthermore, the palace shows a stunning collection of Belgian tapestries.
Outside, we can notice what once was the Rocchetta, partially demolished during the 1800s in order to build the path for the railroad that once connected Bagnolo in Piano with Carpi (Province of Modena), now dismissed and removed. Do not miss also Basilica di San Quirino and Palazzo Cattini.

Exiting Correggio we take the road to Canolo, and for country roads, we arrive in Novellara, another small town but with a very noble past.

In Novellara the Gonzaga family had a branch, called "Novellara-Bagnolo". This part of the family ruled the counties of Novellara and nearby Bagnolo in Piano for more than four centuries, from 1371 to 1728, being the longest existing Gonzaga ruling family, even more than the other one in Mantua. The most notorious symbol of their presence is the Rocca (the castle), official residence of the family and "Glorious Fortress" defending these counties. Today we find the Municipality offices, the Communal Vinegar Cellars, the city hall dedicated to Augusto Daolio (late frontman of the alternative rock band I Nomadi, founded here), the theatre "Franco Tagliavini", the public library with the historical archives and the permanent exhibition of the rural communities, located in the basements. 
We cannot forget also an important citizen of Novellara, Lelio Orsi, one of the most famous painters of Baroque Era, who directed the works of the Rocca and also the ones of the Campanone (the bell tower). The name "Campanone" (the big bell) also gives the name to a very famous type of Lambrusco Reggiano, the local wine.

We get out from Novellara, and via a cycling path, we arrive in Campagnola Emilia, small town in the middle of the lowland. We cross all the town centre, where we can find the Town Hall and the Saints Gervasio and Protasio Church.

We then continue on Via Grande, the road that exits the centre of Campagnola going south, and, at the Cognento crossroads, we take the left to Rio Saliceto and Correggio onto Via Grande.

We then arrive in Rio Saliceto, with the precious Municipality Palace, designed by the Correggio-born architect Giuseppe Aimi.

Continuing towards south to Mandrio di Correggio, along roads that flank peaceful canals and waterways, passing in front of two Parmigiano-Reggiano dairies, where you can buy cheese straight from the producers. As the name says, this cheese is typical from Parma and Reggio Emilia provinces, and it is produced in these provinces, plus the entire Province of Modena, part of Province of Bologna (at the left side of the Reno River) and in Province of Mantua (at the right of the Po River). This specific territory gives to the Parmigiano-Reggiano its unique flavour and the characteristics that only here this cheese can have, from the millennia-old traditions and exquisite taste exported all over the world.

After this tasty stop we then come back in Correggio.

how to arrive

It is possible to follow this route entirely or you can start from one of the passage points, following the GPX tracks (for GPS devices and mobile apps supporting this file), KML files (for Google Earth) or the PDF map.

Arriving in Correggio:

- in auto: from Reggio Emilia via SS722 Tangenziale di Reggio and SP468R di Correggio

- with public transportation: from Reggio Emilia Autostazione - P.le Europa/CIM take bus line no. 43 of SETA to Rolo, and get off in Correggio

Arriving in Novellara:

- by car: from Reggio Emilia, take SP3 to Bagnolo in Piano - Novellara

- by train: Novellara has its own station on the Reggio-Guastalla train line.

Arriving in Campagnola Emilia:

- by car: from the A22 motorway, take the Reggiolo-Rolo exit, then follow the directions to Rolo-Guastalla-Fabbrico onto SP44, then follow directions for Fabbrico and Campagnola on SP4.

- by train: Novellara station serves also Campagnola Emilia on the Reggio-Guastalla train line.

Arriving in Rio Saliceto:

- by car: from Reggio Emilia via SS722 Tangenziale di Reggio, SP468R di Correggio and SP48 to Rio Saliceto.

- in treno: from Reggio Emilia FS take the train to Guastalla on the Reggio-Guastalla line, get off in Novellara. Here, take bus line no. 43 of SETA to Correggio, and get off in Rio Saliceto.

LINK ALLE TRACCE

Cartografia PDF (downloads PDF directly)

Traccia GPX (for GPS devices and supporting mobile apps)

Traccia KML (for Google Earth)