In the hills near Reggio Emilia, the importance of the Medieval period has been well preserved in time. The castles ( in Bianello, Sarzano, Montecchio, Carpineti, Rossena and Canossa) which form the heart of the ancient County of Matilda, have maintained the charm of a time when, amid this scenery of woods and gullies, important events in European politics of the 11th and 12th century unfolded. The best preserved Castle is that of Rossena, which still has its Medieval look-out tower. The castle of Canossa has only a portion of the outer walls still standing and, inside this area, are the crypt of the Church of Saint Apollonio and the small National Museum “Naborre Campanini”. Scene of the famous historical episode, the phrase “Andare a Canossa “ (Go to Canossa) which is used as a synonym of penance and forgiveness, has been translated into more than 30 languages.

Renaissance Courts

The itinerary through the plains north of the city, extending to the Po River, offers an array of interesting artistic landmarks.

Brescello is notable for having hosted the films “Don Camillo and Peppone” to whom the museum is dedicated;
Boretto boasts of having one of the best equipped ports for river navigation;
Guastalla preserves its memories from the period of Gonzaga domination;
Gualtieri with its majestic town square, “Bentivoglio”, and its Museum dedicated to the famous artist who lived there, Antonio Ligabue;
Novellara is home of the Gonzaga fortress and its museum;
Correggio with its well preserved historical centre and its Princes’ Palace.

South of the city, another destination is Scandiano with its impressive Boiardo fortress and the house where Lazzaro Spallanzani, the scientist, was born. Today it houses the Study Centre dedicated to his works.

The Apennines

Of particular interest are the landscapes and naturalistic panoramas, most of which are located in the National Park of Tuscany-Emilia. From Mount Cusna to the Alps of Succiso, from Lake Calamone to the waterfalls of Lavacchiello, they extend along deep valleys, steep ravines, charming reflective pools of water, thick, dark woods filled with chestnut and beech trees, grasslands and moors. The scenery is characterized by exceptional examples such as the “Pietra di Bismantova” (Rock of Bismantova), a huge natural sandstone monolith that towers over the town of Castelnovo Ne’ Monti, a place mentioned by Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy. www.appenninoreggiano.it

Reggio Children – International Center for the Defense and Promotion of the Rights and Potentials of All Children

– is a mixed public-private company established in 1994 on the initiative of Loris Malaguzzi and the commitment of a group of local citizens, with the aim to manage the educational and cultural exchange initiatives that had been taking place for many years between the municipal early childhood institutions of Reggio Emilia and a large number of educators and researchers from around the world.

The company aims and purposes are inspired by the contents and values of the educational experience of the Municipal Infant-toddler Centers and Preschools of Reggio Emilia, and its mission is to carry out experimental research, to promote and disseminate high quality education worldwide.

International recognition of this experience and collaborative initiatives with many countries have led to the creation of an important international network, currently comprising thirty-two countries.

The system includes the newly established Reggio Children – Loris Malaguzzi Center International Foundation, which focuses on research, study, and development aimed at high quality education for all, along with Reggio Children srl and the Infant-toddler Centers and Preschools – Istituzione of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia.

Reggio Children’s headquarters are located in the Loris Malaguzzi International Center. Inaugurated in 2006 and completed in 2011, the Center is supported by the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, Infant-toddler Centers and Preschools, Reggio Children, and the Friends of Reggio Children Association, which now all converge in the newly established Foundation.

The bridges

The bridges, which were built from a design by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, now serve as the doorway to Reggio Emilia. They consist of three great white arches: architectural wonders that are best observed in motion, even while driving along the motorway, where you can appreciate their light, sinuous shapes. They represent XXI-century Reggio Emilia.

The High Speed Railway Station

In addition to the bridges, the High Speed Railway Station, “Mediopadana”, was added in 2013. It was built as exchanging hub for the area of almost 2 milion of potential users but it's definetly also a landmark.
It's a covered structure, completly realized with steel and glass, 483-m long. The width is variable, up to a maximum of 50 metres. It's the same for the height that can reach 20 metres. The cover is composed by the replayed succession of 13 portals, geometrically different, for a total of 457 portals.
The station is on two levels: the inferior one is the one of the entrance and houses the essencial services of the station; the upper one is for the platforms. The two levels are linked by 4 escalators on each side and 2 panoramic elevators.

Invitation to....

With the realization of four permanent works of art by Luciano Fabro, Sol LeWitt, Eliseo Mattiacci and Robert Morris situated in historical areas of the town, Reggio Emilia has planned to give a new look to the urban fabric, upgrading it by creating a dialogue between art and architecture.
A new kind of museum where artworks live in constant dialogue with its surroundings. Author and administrator of the project is the artist Claudio Parmiggiani.

The Maramotti Contemporary Art Collection

What was previously the first headquarters of Max Mara, today houses the important collection of contemporary art of the founder of the group. There are over 200 works of art permanently on display, dating from the 1950s to the present (Bacon, Fontana, Burri, Kounellis, Licini, Schifano, Merz, Parmiggiani, Cucchi, Chia, Kiefer, Baselitz, Richter, Basquiat, Salle, Katz, Fischi and many more). You can also visit the many temporary exhibitions and projects that are on display throughout the year.

Aterballetto

In what was previously known as the headquarters of the Lombardini foundry, today houses the National Dance Foundation “Aterballetto”. It is the main dance production company in Italy, is at the head of its field in ballet, and has gained international recognition.

Tecnopolo

It is a centre for Research in mechanics, mechatronics, construction, agro-business, energy & environment. The Tecnopole has been created to produce and disseminate knowledge, attract hi-tech and know-how, and serves as an incubator for start-ups and spin-offs.

European Photography

Fotografia Europea is an international cultural festival dedicated to contemporary photography, created in 2006.
Fotografia Europea uses photography as a tool to reflect upon the complexity of the contemporary.
The festival takes place in different locations of the city, both public and private, formal and informal, and it consists of a central core of exhibitions among which new ad hoc commissioned productions, related to a specific theme identified every year by the Scientific Committee.
The exhibitions are accompanied by a rich program of events, conferences, screenings, workshops, portfolio reviews and site specific performances.
The program is also enriched by the OFF circuit: the free and independent section of Fotografia Europea, that springs from the spontaneous initiative of individuals, galleries, associations and public and private institutions, and that offers exhibitions and events all over the territory.
Fotografia Europea is also an ongoing project: since its first edition it has acquired more than 1,000 works, which are available on-line and stored in the photo library of the Biblioteca Panizzi.

Aperto Festival

Many events as many expression of today in the ways that the live show allows and that other forms of communication no longer allow: stop, reflect, exercise criticism, inhabit a dream, or a nightmare, and overthrow it. New productions, absolute first and first Italian dance, music, performance. This is Aperto Festival.

Tricolour Flag Hall

It is inside the Town Hall Palace and was originally designed by the architect Ludovico Bolognini in 1774 as ducal archive. Here - January 7, 1797 - the representatives of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Ferrara decided the birth of the Cispadana Republic and declared the Tricolor Flag as the flag of the newborn Republic. Originally it had horizontal green, white and red stripes and a quiver with four arrows in the centre.

Tricolour Flag Museum

Near the historic Room, the Tricolour Flag Museum documents with innovative storiographic criteria the historical and political context in which the Italian flag came to be. Along with historic documents, there are also modern audio-visual instruments which make reading the documents easier.
The exhibition on the Risorgimento in Italy has two parallel themes: the history of the national flag, from its origins to the independence and unification of the country, and the history of the political happenings in Reggio Emilia, from the creation of the Reggiana
Republic in 1796 to the documentation of the aid offered by Reggio Emilia’s people in the battle for national liberation.
“Reggio Emilia today is not only the Capital of the Tricolour, but also a vital central part – through conviction and passion – of the effort to reinforce and re-launch the historic heritage of national Unity”. (Giorgio Napolitano – January 7, 2011 – during the 150th celebration of Italy’s Unification).

Tricolour tour

Reggio Emilia is known troughout Italy, and beyond, as the town where the Tricolor flag, the national italian flag, was born. But why Reggio Emilia? What prompted the members of the cities of Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna e Ferrara to meet in Congress in the former ducal archive, then Tricolor Hall?
Let's discover this tour! Step by step you will understand how the political events of Reggio Emilia are deeply linked to the evolution of the monuments and buildings of the historical centre. About 1 hour walking to discover those ideals of freedom and independace that leaded Italy towards its full confirmation as Nation.

Tricolour gadgets

At the Tourist information office you will find many gadgets inspired by the Tricolour flag:

- Tricolour magnets-bottle openers.......................................... 3.00 Euros
- Tricolour magnet..........................................
2.00 Euros
- Skyline magnet..........................................
2.50 Euros
- Skyline mug......................................................................... 5.00 Euros
- Tricolour mug......................................................................... 5.00 Euros
- Tricolour knapsack...................................................................
4.00 Euros
- Small light...................................................................
3.00 Euros
- Pen...................................................................
1.50 Euros                       
- Pencil...................................................................................
2.00 Euros
- Bookmark............................................................................ 
2.00 Euros
- Tricolour little flag...................................................................
1.00 Euros
- Tricolour Flag..........................................................................
5.00 Euros
- "Reggio Emilia" Tricolour flag..................................................
6.00 Euros
- Marked flag..................................................
6.00 Euros

Museum Palace Since 1830, the Civic Museums have been housed in “Palazzo San Francesco” (The Palace of Saint Frances). They contain collections dedicated to Archeology and Ethnography (Chierici Museum, Roman Museum, the Museum of Pre history and Proto-history), to the History of Art (Fontanesi Gallery,  Antonio Ligabue Hall, Marble Gallery, medieval mosaics) and to the History of Natural Science (Spallanzani Collection, and many zoological, anatomical, botanical, geo-mineralogical and paleontological collections).

Galleria Parmeggiani Luigi Parmeggiani’s collection of art is housed within an unusual Gothic-Renaissance style building. It includes several valuable collections dating from the 1800’s consisting of paintings, furniture, textiles, works of art by Ignacio Leon Y Escosura and Cesare Detti, as well as a valuable collection of older artwork among which is “Il Salvatore Benedicente” (The Saviour) by El Greco. Also featured is a renowned collection of arms and handcrafted goldsmith’s art reproductions from Marcy’s in Paris dating from the 19th century.

Valli Theatre The theatre, surrounded by the public park, is a distinctive landmark located in the city centre. It was designed by architect Cesare Costa, and built between 1852 and 1857. Dedicated to the Reggio Emilia actor Romolo Valli, it offers a choice selection of opera, concerts and ballet every season.

The Cathedral According to sources of medieval history, the church in Reggio Emilia was not referred to as a Cathedral until just before the turn of the 11th century. Despite this, it is without a doubt that a church existed in this spot in 451, the year in which the Bishop of Reggio Favenzio took part in the Synod in Milan. Over the years, the church was adapted first to the Romanesque style, then to the Renaissance one, according to designs created at the end of the 6th century by Prospero Sogari, also known as “il Clemente”, although the upper portion remained unfinished. “Il Clemente” created the sculpture of Adam and Eve which is found under the lunette over the main door. It was Bartolomeo Spani, active from the late 1400’s to early 1500’s, who created the embossed and gilded copper sculpture of the Madonna sitting in a throne with the Christ child and the husband and wife couple, Fiordibelli, which decorates the octagonal overhanging of the facade. Inside the Cathedral you can find artwork by Guercino, Palma il Giovane, Passignano, Pomarancio, Cavalier d’Arpino, and other famous artists. Of particular interest is the crypt which dates from the 12th-13th century. The cathedral has recently undergone restoration and re-opened to the public with contributions by contemporary artists such as Kounellis, Spalletti, Nagasawa, Parmeggiani, and Pompili.

Basilica della GhiaraIt owes its name, “Ghiara”, to the gravelly terrain on which is was built after the miracle that took place there: a deaf-mute boy, Marchino, was praying in front of a fresco painting of the Blessed Mother when he was healed. Built in 1597 from a design by the architect from Ferrara, Balbi, and completed by the Reggian, Francesco Pacchioni, it is one of the most interesting examples of Italian Baroque architecture, containing a true anthology of Italian paintings from the 1600’s. Among those whose artwork can be found inside are: Ludovico Caracci, Alessandro Tiarini, Orazio Talami, Alfonso Chierici, and Guericino (The Crucifixion). In the second chapel on the right, you can see the famous fresco of the Blessed Mother of the Ghiara painted by Bertone in 1569 to a drawing done by Lelio Orsi. Since its restoration, it has become a spectacular experience for whoever chooses to cross its threshold. The critic, Federico Zeri, defines it as “The most prominent monument of Reggio Emilia Mannerism”. Adjoined to the Basilica are the cloisters: the largest of which is now home of the youth hostel.

The Basilica of Saint Prospero Built in 997, the church underwent its first major restoration in the early 1500s. It was during this period that the six lions carved out of red marble from Verona were put in place. The 18th century facade is the work by Giovanni Battista Cattani. Inside, with its three naves in the Latin cross form, are housed many paintings done by artists of the 16th century, among which are those by Giovanni Giarola and Ludovico Carracci. Also of interest is the 17th century altar piece done by Alessandro Tiarini. The presbitery is adorned with a noteworthy series of paintings dating back to the last part of the 16th century and done by Camillo Procaccini and Bernardino Campi.

Hotel

The Papillon Hotel offers convenient proposals for businesses. Also recommended for anyone who wants to stay in search of pleasant moments of relaxation to discover the wonderful places of the Enza River Valley, rich in history and important from the landscape point of view.
It is indeed few kilometres far from the Castles of Canossa, Rossena, Torrechiara, Fontanellato, Bardi, Colorno Realm and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.
Languages spoken: English.

Opening period: all year long