Into the Lowlands - From the Plain to the City

route analysis

Mixed grounds route, with paved roads, gravel, dirt tracks and cobblestone roads, with low difficulty for all people. 
Route length: 46,6 km
Difficulty level: low. The route crosses country roads and streets with low or no traffic.

Pay particular attention on crossroads, roundabouts, major road crossings.
Particularly busy segments where more attention is required:
- Reggiolo: crossing from strada Aurelia to strada Bonifica via SP5, estimated segment length: 600 meters;
- Reggio Emilia urban area

route description

We start this route from Reggiolo and its Rocca (castle). This fortress was built around the main tower, in order to defend Reggio Emilia settlements against Mantua raids. Continuing along Via Matteotti, we can notice on our right side Palazzo Sartoretti, recently restored and re-opened after the 2012 earthquake, that hit critically the historical buildings of Reggiolo with major damages. This palace, once official residence of the homonymous family, hosts the communal offices, the library, and an eleven-thousand square meters public park with playgrounds, farm animals and educational activities for kids.

Following the track lead, we pass across the Reggiolo part of Novellara Valleys, European Union Environmental site for Ecological and Biodiversity Restoration.
We cross then SP5 road, paying particular attention to the safety, and we take Via Bonifica, entering Fabbrico territory. Continuing along the gravel road, we can notice on our right the Heron's Hill (Collina degli Aironi), natural uplifted area where we can take amazing shots of the plain, while on clear sunny days we can eye-reach the Apennines Peaks.

We then arrive in Fabbrico, home of the historical tractor brand Landini. In the town, reserving with anticipation, we can visit some late-medieval rooms inside Guidotti Castle. These rooms were restored in order to host meetings and weddings, while the other parts of the structure are private. This neoclassical building was designed by Cesare Costa, the architect that designed also Valli Theatre in Reggio Emilia. This castle is still inhabited by the Guidotti family, historical family of the ancient Dukedom of Correggio who traded precious fabrics and silks for the Estense States. The big surrounding garden can stun some century-old trees and exotic plants.

With a little detour in Campagnola Emilia, we can visit Bird Oasis Celestina by the Italian League for Bird Protection (LIPU), restored in 2001 in a biodiversity oasis, thanks also to local organisation. Officially opened in 2005, it has a observation tower for birdwatching. The oasis, in a continuous development, hosts an impressive bird population, among these, there are: black-winged stilts, shrikes, terns, mallards, moorhens, and of course meny birds of prey and migrating birds that here stops in their trip from Northern Europe to Africa. Inside the territory, another landmark is San Bernardino Court, where in 1423 San Bernardino da Siena found refuge here. Please note that you have to contact the Municipality beforehand to have a visit, as this place is not open during fall and winter. Campagnola Emilia Municipality: (+39) 0522-753358.

We then arrive in Novellara, where we are welcomed by the Gonzaga Fortress, official residence of Gonzaga-Novellara family. The symbol of the town, with its mighty presence, is the "campanone" (the bell tower), overlooking everything below it. The Campanone gives also its name to a famous type of Lambrusco wine, produced within walking distance in a local winemaker establishment. This town is also the birthplace of one of the most famous alternative rock band in Italy: I Nomadi. Here, we can visit also a permanent exhibition of paintings made by the late frontman and founder of this band: Augusto Daolio. The Gonzaga Museum, at the upper floors of the Rocca, occupies several rooms, where we can discover more about the noble life of the Gonzaga family.

Continuing our route, we flank the Reggio-Guastalla railroad and we cross inside the Fossa towns (Fossa is a local canal that gives the name to the surrounding towns).
We then arrive in Bagnolo in Piano, where our route is overlapped to the trekking trail of Via Matildica del Volto Santo, a long-distance trail from Mantua to Lucca, passing through the entire Reggio Emilia province from north to south, from Guastalla until the border with Tuscany.

Entering the Reggio Emilia urban territory, we cross Rodano Park, 400 hectars of urban park, European Union Site of Interest and Ecological Restoration Area. Here we can find also the Mauriziano, residence of the famous Italian writer Ludovico Ariosto, and one of the most distinguished places of historical identity of Reggio Emilia.

Crossing the bridge on the Rodano stream, we arrive near the Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana High Speed Train Station, unmistakable symbol of the progress developing in the city and major hub for travellers of all of Italy. We follow the road under the A1 motorway and we flank the Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore, home of the local football teams AC Reggiana 1919 and US Sassuolo. Following the CAI signals of Via Matildica, we cross the urban area of Reggio Emilia, finding ourselves near the Parco del Popolo and Valli Theatre. Only a couple hundred meters separate us from the arrival of this route, located in Piazza Prampolini, center of the ancient city.

how to get here

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 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 Fabbrico and Campagnola Emilia:

- by car: from the Reggiolo-Rolo exit on A22 motorway, take the road to Rolo-Guastalla-Fabbrico on SP44, then follow for Fabbrico on SP4. Continue straight on this road to reach Campagnola Emilia.

- by train: Rolo-Novi-Fabbrico station is located at 6kms from Fabbrico, in the municipality of Rolo.

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.

Raggiungere Bagnolo in Piano:

- by car: Reggio Emilia exit on A1 motorway reaches also Bagnolo in Piano. On ordinary roads, take SP3 from Reggio Emilia towards north direction.

- by train: Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana High Speed Train Station is 5km away from Bagnolo in Piano, while local trains have several station inside the municipality, on the Reggio-Guastalla line.

Arriving in Reggio Emilia:

- by car: Reggio Emilia exit on A1 motorway

- by train: the city has two main stations: Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana High Speed Train Station exclusively for National High Speed trains and Reggio Emilia FS for Regional, Local and Intercity trains.

tracks and maps

Cartografia PDF (directly downloads the PDF map)

Traccia GPX (for GPS devices and mobile-supporting apps)

Traccia KML (for Google Earth)