Railway station
Parma - Suzzara
Parma - Chiozzola - Sorbolo - Lentigione - Brescello - Boretto - Pieve Saliceto - Gualtieri - Guastalla - Tagliata - Luzzara - Codisotto - Suzzara
800 198 637 - Information about trains
840 00 216 - Information about urban and suburban buses: call center Seta www.setaweb.it
The service is active Monday-Saturday from 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.; Sunday from 08:20 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
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Timetable of extra-urban routes
Transport service
840 000 216 - Contact Center Seta (Monday-Saturday from 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.; Sunday from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m., closed on weekday holidays)
840 151 152 - Railway Call Center
Tickets can also be purchased in the tobacconist shops (tabaccheria).
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Here are the maps of the 32 Municipalities of the local editorial staff of Reggio Emilia:
Reggio nell'Emilia
Albinea
Bagnolo in Piano
Bibbiano
Boretto
Brescello
Cadelbosco Sopra
Campagnola Emilia
Campegine
Casalgrande
Castellarano
Castelnovo Sotto
Cavriago
Correggio
Fabbrico
Gattatico
Gualtieri
Guastalla
Luzzara
Montecchio Emilia
Novellara
Poviglio
Quattro Castella
Reggiolo
Rio Saliceto
Rolo
Rubiera
San Martino in Rio
San Polo d'Enza
Sant'Ilario d'Enza
Scandiano
Vezzano sul Crostolo
Altitude: 22 m
Inhabitants: 8,553 (updated to December 31, 2022)
Post code: 42045
Weekly market day: Monday in Luzzara, Thursday in Villarotta
Patron Saint: San Giorgio (April 23)
Hamlets: Casoni, Codisotto, Villarotta
0039 0522 223811 - Municipality
Comune di Luzzara (Luzzara Municipality)
Luzzara
By car
From A22 Brennero Motorway: it is possible to reach Luzzara by either taking Pegognaga or Reggiolo exits.
By train
From the Reggio Emilia Railway Station: regional train to Parma and then Tper train Parma-Suzzara.
Luzzara offers a fascinating typical Po Valley landscape.
It’s situated at the extreme north edge of the Province of Reggio Emilia, where the Reggio Emilia lowlands merge with the Mantua Oltrepo (on the opposite side of the River Po).
It’s always been inextricably linked to the character and destiny of the River Po.
The distinctive banks of the Po River mark the boundary with the Region of Lombardy, also providing a choreographic backdrop to extensive woodlands and fertile farmland making up 60% of the Luzzara local council area.
According to the official historical account, the town of Luzzara was besieged during the Lombard period after the battle of Mantua in 604 A.D.
Tradition has it that the name of the town originates from "Luciaia", the land of the carp.
The Po River valley fishing waters are really well stocked with this fish. Notwithstanding this, the name Luzzara appears for the first time in a document dated 781 in which Charlemagne took the Reggio Emilia Church under his high protection.
During the long, dark years of struggle between the Church and Empire, Luzzara experienced numerous vicissitudes until it passed to the dominion of the most prestigious rulers, the Gonzaga family in 1354.
The Gonzaga dynasty indeed, sought to fortify the town and the "Luzzara Fair".
In 1411 the family inaugurated a series of benefits and incentives to encourage artists, craftsmen and writers to work in the area.
Luzzara thus became a classical example of a small Renaissance centre on the banks of the Po River.
Looking at a street plan of the town even today one can still see squares, civic and religious buildings as they were originally conceived in the architectural designs of 1400.
During the 18th century Luzzara experienced bloody and painful conflicts in efforts to gain a partial political and social independence.
On the death of Carlo and the ending of the Gonzaga dynasty, Luzzara passed under the protectorate of the Dukedom of Parma with Maria Teresa of Austria, in 1747.
It was transferred again in 1748, this time to Filippo di Borbone who introduced important economic incentives leading to a substantial increase in economic activities.
With the French Revolution, Luzzara became part of the Cisalpine Republic, later forming part of the Crostolo administrative "Compartment".
Napoleonic decrees introduced a number of changes, cemeteries were built both for the town and outlying villages and the new metric system was introduced.
After the fall of the Napoleonic Empire Luzzara was reoccupied by the Austrian troops and once again transferred to Maria Luisa of Austria.
When the Duchess died in 1848 the town passed to Francesco V of the House of Este.
The II War of Independence led to the downfall of the Este family and, following the plebiscite of 1860, Luzzara was finally annexed to Piedmont and later to the Kingdom of Italy.
In the administrative reorganization of the Kingdom of Italy, the local council area of Luzzara was transferred to the Province of Reggio Emilia.
From this point, administrative and territorial boundaries have remained unchanged.
It’s an ideal destination for “informed” tourism, not only for the naturalistic aspects but also for its genuine products (Lambrusco and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, for example), with a cuisine centred on its typical flavours of cappelletti, tortelli di zucca, cold pork meats and freshwater fish dishes.
Thanks to the work of its most famous son Cesare Zavattini, Luzzara, the surrounding countryside and the world of the river, have reached well beyond their geographical limits and have become places of the spirit, to be discovered on foot, by mountain bike, by horse or by canoe.
In order to visit the Annunziata Church, previously an Augustinian convent as well as the Naïve-Arts National Museum (the only one of its kind, is named but which, unfortunately, is closed due to the damage caused by the earthquake in 2012), follow the road signs to Mantua.
Just before the edge of the town you will see a spacious and shady car park.
In order to arrive at the Corte Mazo or Villa Paralupi follow the road signs to Guastalla.
Next to the town centre of Luzzara, with its ancient porticoes and its imposing high Tower (the highest in the province, as the local people proudly claim), the networks of reclamations and valleys but, most of all, the Po and the floodplain, have all been well conserved.
Here, among poplars and birches, or directly on the banks of the river, huts emerge in the greenery, often hoisted on stilts and surrounded by vegetable gardens, as well as quince, plum and walnut trees.
The San Giorgio Church, in Baroque style, maintains the apse and some Romanesque-style details.
The restoration of the former Luccio Quarry, the artificial lake deriving from a quarry for the extraction of clay, and the surrounding area, with the creation of pedestrian and educational trails, are particularly interesting.
The "River Park" is located inside the natural area of the Po River, in a magnificent centuries-old oak wood.
The surrounding environment is particularly quiet, with green spaces and clean air, away from the urban area.
Suitable for both old and young people, the park has paths of different levels of difficulty, developed in full safety and completely respectful of nature.
Inside the park are benches and picnic tables for eating in the open air. In the surrounding area, on the banks of the Po River, is a kiosk-bar, where it is possible to eat hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and barbecues with live music on weekends.
Luzzara’s floodplain is included in the main cycle routes of Emilia and Lombardy, making it possible to visit small and large towns full of historical and cultural elements, with an enviable culinary tradition.
Luzzara links easily to the cycle routes of Parma, Mantua and Lake Garda.
It is also part of shorter, but equally important and fascinating routes, such as the one that goes from Brescello to Suzzara (passing through Gualtieri, Guastalla and Luzzara), the Three Bridges tour (Borgoforte, Correggioverde, Luzzara, Suzzara) and the route going from Luzzara to the mouth of the Secchia River (Motteggiana, Bagnolo San Vito, San Benedetto Po).
The app "Terre di Po e dei Gonzaga in bici" ("Lands of the Po River and the Gonzaga by bicycle") is available with nine different bicycle routes connecting all the towns of the Lowlands of the Reggio Emilia Province, on App Store (for iPhones) and Google Play (for Androids).
July Festival - Second weekend of July
Musical performances and entertainment.
Via Veniera 1 - Villarotta di Luzzara (RE) +39 339 7672695 - Group of Photography “La treccia”
museodeltruciolo@gmail.com Museo del truciolo
Sunday
3.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.
For schools, the visits are held in the morning, upon reservation only.
Free entrance
Luzzara
By car
From A22 Brennero Motorway, it is possible to reach Luzzara by either taking Pegognaga or Reggiolo exits.
By train
From the central railway station, regional train to Parma and then TPER train Parma-Suzzara
It is an unique example of the woodworking process that aimed to obtain chips, and from these the braid, which then was knitted together in "straw" hats; for centuries it had been have been the main manufacturing activity of the village.
First hats here were produced back to the '600 and until about ten years ago in 2004, Villarotta hosted a facrory, the Ruina Brothers that finallu donated part of the equipment on display.
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Piazza Castello, 3 - 42045 Luzzara
Phone 0039 0522 976103
See the indication to reach Luzzara
The church, which has one nave and two aisles and five side-chapels, also contains a number of architectural features from the Renaissance period. There are also a number of excellent canvas paintings, including a 16th-century depiction of the Madonna with Infant Jesus with St. George and St. Jerome by Bernardino Luini.The oratory of “Luciara” was first mentioned in a charter by Charlemagne dated 781, whereby it was assigned to the Bishop of Reggio Emilia. In 868, the Empress Agelberg donated the oratory to the monastery of San Sisto in Piacenza.
When Luzzara came to be part of the dominion of Matilda, Countess of Canossa, in 1106, the oratory became a parish church endowed with a baptismal font.
In 1521, the Bishop arranged for the church to be restored, and commissioned Bernardino Luini to paint the altar-piece in the apse depicting the Madonna with the Infant Jesus with St. George and St. Jerome.
In 1657, the church of St. George was partly demolished to make way for the architectural remodelling works carried out by Andrea Bassi on a design by Rostoni from Reggio Emilia.
Except for the original apse of the church, the original Romanesque church was completely demolished.
In 1674, the fourth apostolic notary Falis Falli, endowed the church with a baptismal font bearing his coat of arms, which is still in the church today. The chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary dates back to the same period and was originally annexed to the nearby Palazzo della Macina owned by the Gonzaga family.
As indicated on the memorial stone inside the church, the parish church was consecrated in September 1772, following further restoration and renovation works to repair the damage suffered as a result of wars, foreign invasions, and battles.
The bell tower was demolished in 1900 and subsequently rebuilt without any of its original features. The façade was also renovated at that time, while the paintwork inside and outside the church was renewed after 1930.
The Baroque interior has a Latin cross layout with one nave and two aisles with columns and three side chapels (of which two are partly in Renaissance style), a transept, an octagonal dome, and a deep apse. The Romanesque style apse, with low arches, pilaster strips, and embrased windows is particularly interesting.
The church contains altars framed with stucco ornaments and 15th- and 16th-century altarpieces. The main altar in inlaid marble with floral decorations is the work of the Florentine brothers Columelli.
The church contains several valuable paintings and ornaments, including the “Madonna with Infant Jesus with St. George and St. Jerome” (16th-century) by Bernardino Luini from the Lombard school, the “Pieta” (18th-century), the “Deposition” (16th-century), the “Annunciation” on the frontal, and “Jesus in the Gethsemane” (18th-century).
On the right of the presbytery is the chapel of the Gonzaga family dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.
The church façade and side walls are in Baroque style and the apse is in Romanesque style.
A number of valuable vestments and chasubles in gold and silver fabric are conserved in the church.
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Piazza Ferrari - 42045 Luzzara
Luzzara
By car
From A22 Brennero Motorway, it is possible to reach Luzzara by either taking Pegognaga or Reggiolo exits.
By train
From the central railway station, regional train to Parma and then TPER train Parma-Suzzara
The civic tower of Luzzara is the symbol of the village. On the top of its 55 meters, which make it one of the tallest towers in the province of Reggio Emilia, stands the cross with the pike
42045 LuzzaraComune di Luzzara - Turismo e cenni storici
Villa Paralupi al Maso
The National Museum of Art Naïf is located in a 15th century convent. The finely decorated frescoes, which depict the family crests of the noble families of the area that were benefactresses of the convent, are of great importance. The interior porticoes marked by octagonal columns are also extremely beautiful. The ancient seat of the Augustinian order, the convent and its Chiesa della Beata Maria Vergine Annunziata were constructed in the 15th century thanks to Caterina Pico, wife of Rodolfo Gonzaga. Little remains of the original building as it has undergone numerous transformations over time. Among these, and certainly a determining factor, was due to the “Battaglia di Luzzara,” a battle fought in the surrounding area on 15 August 1702. On one side were the armies of the kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, France, and the Duchy of Savoia, on the other, Austria with the support of Holland and England. The building was converted into a hospital in 1824 thanks to Maria Luigia, Duchess of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla. The building was maintained as a hospital by Lodigiani family for years thereafter. In 1918 a fire destroyed a large section of the church, which at the time was used as a warehouse for war material during the First World War. When a hospital was opened in Guastalla, the outlying hospitals and infirmaries were closed. The former convent thus came under local council management and was designated as the site of the museum once reconstruction work was completed. The Museum of Luzzara, opened in 1967 thanks to the inspired idea of Cesare Zavattini, to whom the museum was later dedicated, and the annual “Premio Nazionale delle Arti Naives” (National Award of Art Naïf) exhibition have an important role in the national art scene.
The theatre of Luzzara was purchased by the “società teatrale di Luzzzara” around 1813. Probably once a farm building used as a granary, the building underwent massive, hasty reconstruction work in order to convert it into a theatre. The theatre was not inaugurated until 2 October 1852 with the staging of the opera “I Capuleti ed I Montecchi” by Vincenzo Bellini. The theatre seated 400, with 47 boxes and three tiers. The hand painted theatre curtain depicted the Fair of Luzzara with the Gonzaga princes. The building is presently closed for restoration.
The Palazzo della Macina, a palace of the Gonzaga, a noble family of Luzzara, was built towards the end of the 15th century based on the designs of Luca Fancelli. At the peak of its splendour the building was decorated with marvellous frescoes and occupied nearly the entire area of the present-day piazza. However, after a war that ended with the battle on 15 August 1702, all that remained was what is still visible today. The name of the building derives from the fact that it was formerly used as the place where a grains tax, known as the macina (millstone; burden, load), was paid Inside the building one can still see the sumptuous loggia the looks out onto the courtyard, and over the main entrance the family crest of the Gonzaga depicting the symbol of fertility realized in coloured porcelain.
The community of Luzzara had always wanted to build a tall Tower where the bells could be hung, using the building material of the old towers, the Rocca, and the fortifications. Duke Antonio Ferdinando, with a decree on 20 June 1716, authorized the community of Luzzara to make an initial collection of crops, wine, and money. Thus, in 1724 the construction of the tower was begun, and completed only in 1740 after a second collection was ordered by the Duchess of Guastalla, Maria Darmestat. In 1762 the support frames for the bells were installed, and in 1780, by the will of the people of Luzzara, a cross with a pike was placed on the cupola, thus achieving a height of 55 metres.
Villa Paralupi, located in Maso, is certainly of great artistic importance. An extraordinary manor house, it was one of the more well known residences of the Gonzaga family. Though it has been owned by a number of powerful families over the centuries, the villa still proudly maintains some of the characteristics of its noble past, including the family chapel and the garden, famous for its fascinating arboreal plantations, a patrimony of enormous botanical value which includes limited specimens of great beauty.
Luzzara
By car
From A22 Brennero Motorway, it is possible to reach Luzzara by either taking Pegognaga or Reggiolo exits.
By train
From the central railway station, regional train to Parma and then TPER train Parma-Suzzara
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42045 Luzzara
A wonderful itinerary through the places impressed on film and in the collective imagination by the shots of famous foreign and Italian photographers. After Paul Strand, invited by Cesare Zavattini himself to make a photographic reportage in his own village, many photographers made this country protagonist of their shots: Luigi Ghirri, Stephen Shore, Olivo Barbieri, the photographers of Reggio Emilia Marcello Grassi and Fabrizio Orsi, which in 2004 realized, with the literary contribution of Luciano Ligabue, the project "Luzzara. Fifty years and more ...", up to Vittore Fossati and its 10 photographs of Luzzara, taken and exhibited in Luzzara in 2007.
Itinerari Fotografici - Fondazione Un Paese
Luzzara
By car
From A22 Brennero Motorway, it is possible to reach Luzzara by either taking Pegognaga or Reggiolo exits.
By train
From the central railway station, regional train to Parma and then TPER train Parma-Suzzara.
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Minimum difficulty, suitable for all. The ground is mainly paved road or cobblestone in town centres, few dirt tracks. It is possible also to follow smaller segments.
Route length: 47,7 km.
Difficulty level: very low
Pay attention to zebra crossings, crossroads, and roundabouts.
Once upon a time, they were Corradi, a feudatarian family of the Polirone Complex of San Benedetto Po (MN), nominated directly from Mathilda of Tuscany in 1096 as trusted persons for the government of lands. Subsequently, they became Gonzaga, taking their name from the homonymous town now in the Province of Mantua, becoming one of Europe's most powerful families, ruling across five centuries in Italy and Europe.
This ringroad makes you discover the origin places of the Gonzaga family, across the provinces of Mantua and Reggio Emilia, where family members kept their roots well and alive, even after having established their residence in Mantua.
We start from Luzzara, northernmost town of the Province and home to the cadet branch of Gonzaga-Luzzara. the ancient residencies are nowadays gone, remaining only Palazzo della Macina, now home to the local oratory, and the bell tower (proudly said from the local citizens to be the tallest in all the province).
Just outside Luzzara, we find ourselves in open fields. We cross the overpass above the National road and after some time we enter in Palidano territory, small village of Gonzaga municipality (Province of Mantua). Here we find Villa Strozzi, a neoclassical villa built by the Strozzi family of Florence, and converted in 1974 as a School of Agriculture. During the 2012 earthquake, the villa was heavily damaged, and it is still being recovered. In the centre of the village of Palidano, we can find Villa Maraini-Guerrieri Gonzaga, property of another cadet branch of the Gonzaga family, with origins in Fermo, Marche Region and absorbed into the Mantua family. Nowadays the structure is a fine hotel.
Following roads flanked by trees, dirt tracks and small fishing lakes, we arrive in Gonzaga, birthplace of the Corradi family, the original nucleus where all started.
This Municipality was disputed between Mantua and Reggio Emilia, as these territories was under the rule of Canossa family, while Bonacolsi family (the ruling dynasty before the Gonzaga) wanted to overpass Po river and conquer territories south of the river. In 1225 they finally reached an agreement, where the countryside around Gonzaga were property of Reggio Emilia, while the fortified town became property of Mantua. Fast forward in 1328, the Gonzaga family sacked the Bonacolsi, and became the ruling family of Mantua, becoming People's Captains, Regent Family and Imperial Vicars. The Gonzaga legacy was founded, continuing its power for more than five centuries.
In the town, nowadays, we can find the imprinting of the ancient castle (slightly uplifted from the rest of the town), the big 1400s tower and the minor tower, last remaining landmarks of the great castle of the 15th century, specifically built to keep the power in their birthplace. The castle, during the 18th century was demolished, and the building materials were used to build the church of the nearby village of Bondeno and other buildings in the surrounding area.
Under the Tower's arch we can find zodiac signs frescoes and the family logos. The tower is open during special occasions for guided tours, and from the top it is possible to have a fantastic point of view on all the plain. South of the canal that divides the town, we can find Villa Canaro, designed by the family's architect Luca Fancelli (Brunelleschi's apprentice), as the main building for special occasions. Here we can find also frescoes of Modena and Bologna painters.
Within short distance, following the Renaissance arch in front of the villa, we can find the San Benedetto Abate Church, in romanic medieval style, built by Mathilda of Tuscany in the year 1000. We can find inside some high value works of art.
Exiting from Gonzaga, we take the cycling path, arriving in the village of Bondeno, that until the invasion of Napoleon was the last village of Reggio Emilia before Mantuan territory. This place was beloved by Mathilda of Tuscany as her holiday place. Unfortunately, during the 2012 earthquake, many historical buildings have suffered major damages, and from since these structures are covered with safety measures.
Heading south, on the border between the two provinces we can find Bondanazzo, the place where Mathilda of Tuscany died in the year 1115. Here the Reggiolo Municipality created a network of cultural and sport itineraries, and this is the starting point.
We continue on country roads and we arrive in Reggiolo. Here we can find the mighty Rocca and the fine Palazzo Sartoretti, that now is home to the public library and has an amazing park with farm animals and educational games.
Outside Reggiolo, we cross fields, pass through the villages of Brugneto and San Girolamo, and we get in Guastalla, the small capital on the Po river.
Here the cadet branch of Gonzaga da Guastalla family, from the 1400s until the 1600 and beyond, created a historical state that endured through the centuries. This state was the Ducato di Guastalla, part of the Holy Roman Empire and subsequently autonomous state under the dukes of Farnese in Parma and Este in Reggio Emilia. This small city has it all: noble palaces, cathedrals, impressive historical buildings, and the mighty statue of Ferrante 1st Gonzaga, the founder of this family branch. Here this part of Gonzaga family managed to keep all the treasures and buildings close, without selling them to external buyers, as unfortunately the Mantuan part did in a moment of severe economical crisis at the end of 1700s, anticipating their fall under the Habsburg family.
Reaching then the Po embankment, we follow the ancient defending walls with their unique 7-point star shape, in the northwestern part of the city.
Riding across floodplains and poplars, we get back in Luzzara.
It is possible to follow the route entirely or starting from one of the passage points, following the GPX tracks (for GPS devices or supporting mobile apps), KML files (for Google Earth), or the PDF maps.
Arriving in Luzzara:
- by car: from Reggio Emilia via SP3 to Novellara, SP42 to Guastalla and SP62R to Suzzara e Luzzara. From Mantua via SP ex SS62 to Reggio Emilia and Suzzara
- by train: from Reggio Emilia FS take the Regional train on the Reggio-Guastalla line, then switch trains in Guastalla and take the Regional train on the Parma-Suzzara line, get off in Luzzara.
Arriving in Gonzaga (MN):
- by car: from Reggio Emilia via SP3 to Novellara, SP5 to Reggiolo and Via Gonzaga to Gonzaga. From Mantova via SP ex SS62 to Suzzara and SP50 to Gonzaga/Modena/Moglia
- by train: On the Modena-Mantova line there are the two stations of Gonzaga-Reggiolo and Palidano that serve the main town and the Palidano village.
Arriving in Reggiolo:
- by car: via A22 Motorway, Reggiolo-Rolo exit. On ordinary roads, from Reggio Emilia take SP3 until Novellara, and then SP5 to Reggiolo.
- by train: on the Modena-Mantova line, the two stations of Gonzaga-Reggiolo (north of Reggiolo) and Villanova di Reggiolo (east of Reggiolo) are available, respectively 3kms far from the town.
Arriving in Guastalla:
- by car: from Reggio Emilia via SP63R until the intersection in Gualtieri - Ligabue Shopping Center, from here, take SP62R var until the San Giacomo/Guastalla/Novellara exit.
- by train: from Reggio Emilia FS there is a direct connection on the Reggio-Guastalla line.
Cartografia PDF (downloads directly the PDF map)
Traccia GPX (for GPS devices and mobile supporting apps)
Traccia KML (for Google Earth)
]]> Via Tomba, 29 - 42045 Luzzara
0039 0522 223373
info@cortegiardino.it Agriturismo Corte Giardino
Corte Giardino can offer a conference room up to 100 seats for business meetings, and includes an innovative interactive whiteboard.
This innovative electronic whiteboard is equipped with advanced features such as a sophisticated touch-screen device for real-time editing of presentation cards, processing and printing of notes created by the teacher.
Opening periods: January 15 - July 30; August 20 - December 20
The hall can hosts up to 100 people
Luzzara
By car
From A22 Brennero Motorway, it is possible to reach Luzzara by either taking Pegognaga or Reggiolo exits.
By train
From the central railway station, regional train to Parma and then TPER train Parma-Suzzara
There are no architectural barriers.
Screen
Projection System
Portable Computer
Audio Device
Advanced whiteboard for notes
Free Wi-Fi connection
Possibility of coffee break in the adjacent hall
Business lunches
Accommodation for lecturers and participants
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