Nelson Mandela Park

Also known locally as Buco del Signore, Parco Nelson Mandela was established in the early 1980s.
The green area stretches across open glades, stands of mature trees, and dedicated sports areas, while its western boundary borders the Canale di Secchia, creating an engaging link between the park and the surrounding canal landscape.
The park also houses a self-managed community centre (centro sociale), serving as a vibrant gathering place for local residents.

The park is dedicated to Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first president elected after the end of apartheid and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
This naming honours the long-standing bond of friendship uniting Reggio Emilia with Southern Africa - a relationship built over decades of exchange, international cooperation, and joint cultural and social initiatives.
The park’s name stands as a symbol of peace, dialogue, and international solidarity.

A green haven between trees and the canal

The park's botanical collection includes hackberries, limes, pedunculate oaks, and horse chestnuts, flanked by small clusters of white poplars alongside flowering and fruit-bearing trees such as pears, apples, cherries, and persimmons.

In the northern sector along Via Gran Sasso d’Italia, more recently planted trees take root, while the proximity to the Canale di Secchia enriches the range of natural habitats.
Along the canal banks grow black locusts, elders, hawthorns, and hornbeams, establishing a continuous green corridor linking the park to the canal environment.

Park entrances

Via Gran Sasso d'Italia, Via Maiella, Via Albert Luthuli, Via del Partigiano, Via Martiri di Cervarolo.