The 13 Municipalities involved

PARMA www.comune.parma.it
For info: IAT Comune di Parma, tel. +39 (0)521 218889; turismo@comune.parma.it

Parma, a city of grand cultural traditions, both aristocratic and popular, abounding in priceless works of art and prestigious monuments that range from Romanesque to the Liberty style. With its past as capital of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, marked by the enlightened government of Marie Louise, Napoleon's wife, and by the fame of its illustrious children and the artists who lived and worked there - from Benedetto Antelami to Salimbene, from Correggio to Parmigianino, from Bodoni to Verdi and Toscanini, from Stendhal to Proust – Parma is quite unlike any of the other numerous beautiful cities that attract visitors to Italy. Today, it has 170,000 inhabitants. Halfway between Milan and Bologna, it is easy to reach by motorway or railway. The Province has an overall population of about 400,000 inhabitants and is characterised by extensive, delightful mountainous areas studded with castles.  Parma is known as the capital of “Food Valley” and is the very symbol of Italian food and food tradition thanks to its unique, world-famous products such as Parma Ham, deli meats and its renowned Parmesan Cheese.

CALESTANO www.comune.calestano.pr.it
For info: Pro Loco, tel. +39 327 7476467; Councillor for Tourism bertani.parma@libero.it

The area of Calestano was inhabited in prehistoric times, as proven by flint objects found there. However, the village dates back to the Middle Ages, a period when it was subject to the jurisdiction of the Fieschi family. The feud of Calestano belonged to the Fieschi family until the first decades of the 17th century, when it was sold to the Tarasconis. During the Napoleonic period, it was totally abolished. The upper part of the village is characterised by Medieval terraced houses, whereas spacious courtyards delimited by large entrance doors typify the lower part. Other remains of Medieval and 16th-17th century-architecture are to be found in the hamlets of Marzolara, Vallerano, Ramiano, Ronzano, Borsano, Iano, Fragno, Alpicella, Canesano and Vigolone, Ravarano and Chiastre, famous for its so-called “Devil’s Ravine”: 5km of needles and rock faces emerging dramatically and rising for a few dozen metres above the surrounding ground.  Besides enjoying the architectural and naturalistic attractions, visitors should not miss the dishes prepared in local restaurants between September and January using black truffles from Fragno.

COLLECCHIO www.comune.collecchio.pr.it
For info: d.ranza@comune.collecchio.pr.it - Tourist Office, tel. +39 (0)521 302502

As an important industrial centre, Collecchio is a fine example of sustainable development: the great agri-food tradition of the area, the site of numerous small and medium-sized enterprises and large international companies, hasn’t prevented the development of an effective environmental protection policy, which is a prerequisite for high quality production.  This is the home of the deli meat industry, with Parma Ham in the lead; it is located in a an avant-garde Ecologically Equipped Protective Area (APEA); the dairy sector boasts Parmesan Cheese and Parmalat – a leading milk producer – as its emblems; and then there is the tomato processing industry, ranked first in Italy for production volume, which already numbered approximately seventy processing companies in the early 1920s. The Guatelli Museum of Farmers’ Civilisation and the Tomato Museum bear witness to Collecchio’s tradition.

CORNIGLIO www.comune.corniglio.pr.it
For info: IAT/Hostel, tel. +39 (0)521 881012

The municipality stretches from the hills to the Apennine crest of the high Val Parma, where lies the State-owned forest full of tall trees and lakes, perfect places for excursions and walks. Lago Santo (The Sacred Lake) (1,507m a.s.l.) is considered the pearl of the Parma Apennine and may also be reached by chairlift from Lagdei, after the Bosco di Corniglio. The lakes Gemini (or Lagoni) may be reached by car, while the other high lakes, such as Scuro
1,527m a.s.l.) or Bicchiere (1,724m a.s.l.) are accessible on foot, along well-signposted paths. Destinations for excursions are the peaks of Marmagna (1852), one hour and twenty minutes from Lago Santo; of Orsaro (1,831m a.s.l.) about two hours from Lago Santo; or of Monte Aquila (1,780m a.s.l.). In the wintertime at Lagdei, as well as the chairlift, there is also a ski-lift with nearby cross-country ski runs. The main town is dominated by the castle, built by the Commune of Parma in the 13th century and from 1370 the property of the Rossi family who kept it until the 1600s when ownership passed to the Dukedom of Parma. Nowadays not much remains and what does has been partially restored. In the hamlet of Roccaferrara there are some remarkable examples of spontaneous architecture, while that of Bosco includes some fine ancient portals sculpted in stone. Potatoes, mushrooms and chestnuts are characteristic local products and are used to make tasty traditional dishes. Over the Christmas period, it is still a family custom to bake Spongata (a traditional spicy cake).

FELINO www.comune.felino.pr.it
For info: tel. +39 (0)521 331342 - 331343; Maria Chiara Delendati tel. +39 (0)521335941; mc.delendati@comune.felino.pr.it 

The town of Felino, an agricultural and industrial centre lying among the rolling hills of the valley of the Baganza torrent, owes its fame to the production of salami known for its mildness in taste and aroma, which is traditionally sliced with a 60° angle with respect to its axis, so that the resulting oblong slices can show the grain better and not crumble if the salami is eaten fresh. Felino played a crucial role in the history of the province of Parma during the Middle Ages thanks to its castle, which is located on a hill with a panoramic view, about 1km from the village. A new wave of fame arrived at the beginning of the 19th century thanks to the production of deli meats. The Archpriest Church, dating back to the 12th century and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Purification, was already being mentioned in documents from 1230; today, it is visible in its 17th century reconstruction.

LANGHIRANO www.comune.langhirano.pr.it
For info: Festival Secretary, tel. +39 (0)521 864132, IAT tel. +39 (0)521.355009

Meeting place and crossroads between the plains and mountains of the Parma area, the Municipality of Langhirano sits amongst hills covered in vines: at the foot stands out Torrechiara castle, long aplace of mystery and legend, as well as the location for such acclaimed films as“Ladyhawke”. The Castle also contains a permanent exhibition dedicated to the famous soprano Renata Tebaldi.Langhirano is the seat of the Parma Ham and Deli Meats Museum, which is located in the former Cattle Market and offers a visit itinerary that shows the production of the cherished products that have made Langhirano and the city of Parma world famous for their culinary art. From the Langhirano hills, you can leave for long trekking tours along the crest of the mountain that separates the two valleys of the rivers Parma and Baganza, as well as for pleasant mountain-bike rides.

LESIGNANO DE BAGNI www.comune.lesignano.debagni.pr.it
For info: Filippo Adorni, tel. +39 (0)521 850213 and Information Office, tel. 0521 850211

Once part of the feud of Matilda of Canossa and an ancient spa, Lesignano de’ Bagni is located slap in front of Langhirano, which has influenced the former, also from an economic point of view, with dry-cured ham processing being its main business.  Gullies and bubbling mud (known as Barboj) are natural phenomena that make this area charming and pleasant for those who are looking for a place to enjoy nature and discover its evolution, but also local cuisine. Lesignano de' Bagni was first mentioned in a will of August 1094. It was under the rule of the Viscontis from 1346 to 1447. It was Pier Maria Rossi who decided to exploit the spa waters of Lesignano, expurgating the water wells and restoring the hostel.  In 1761 the entire area of Lesignano was ruled by the Duke of the Sforza-Cesarini House. Following a Decree issued by Napoleon in 1805, Lesignano became part of the Municipality of Parma. The following year Lesignano became a free commune again adopting its final name of Lesignano de' Bagni in 1837.

MONTECHIARUGOLO www.comune.montechiarugolo.pr.it
For info: Tourism Office, tel. +39 (0)521 687711 – cultura@comune.montechiarugolo.pr.it

The first settlement of the town of Montechiarugolo is likely to date back to the early Middle Ages between 900 and 950AD, following the clearing of trees carried out by the Austin friars of the S. Felicola Abbey. At the beginning of the new century, the town underwent economic development based on mechanisation in agriculture and a growth in industrial activities In particular, this marked the rooting of the agri-food industry and a change in the skyline, studded with the brick chimney stacks of the tomato processing factories.  Many were set up, but few were destined to last as long as the Mutti company, which is still active in Basilicanova.
In 1925 the discovery of thermal waters at Monticelli by the Borrini family and the subsequent
construction of the Spa Baths added an important new element to the social and economic fabric of the town, partly changing its vocation.

NEVIANO DEGLI ARDUINI www.comune.neviano-degli-arduini.pr.it
For info: Centro Monte Fuso, tel. +39 (0)521 840151; parcofuso@provincia.parma.it; Town Hall, tel. +39 (0)521 843222

The whole area is a certified biological oasis, a characteristic which further boosts its already wide-ranging attraction for tourists, which allowed its charm and beauty to flourish In springtime a dense network of paths, suitable for both trekking and mountain-biking or equestrian tourism, reaches its apogee in the Provincial Park of Mount Fuso. Neviano is today a pleasant, mainly agricultural town in the Apennines. The local crops are wheat, corn, barley, grapes and chestnuts (the “marrons” from Campora are famous). . Animal breeding is also important, along with production of Parmesan cheese and the maturation of hams. Typical organic products from Neviano’s Natural Reserve can be tasted and bought locally.

SALA BAGANZA www.comune.sala-baganza.pr.it
For info: iatsala@comune.sala-baganza.pr.it, tel. +39 (0)521 331342-331343

This ancient town was named after a local Longobard settlement (Sala) and the river Baganza, along whose banks it developed from the year 1862. The town’s history is inextricably linked to that of the Rocca Sanvitale built in 1461 by Stefano Sanvitale, but subject to interesting, if at times devastating restoration work by its subsequent owners.  For many years the residence of the Sanvitale family, it was seized in 1612 by the Farnese, who introduced the first architectural and decorative changes that characterise the palace today, such as the creation of the 18th century Potager Garden. It was Duchess Maria Amalia of Habsburg, the wife of Ferdinand of Bourbon, who ordered the construction of two buildings, the Neoclassical Oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption next to the Rocca, and the Shooting Lodge of the Boschi di Carrega, in the heart of the reserve that once belonged to the Farnese. The Shooting Lodge, located inside the Boschi di Carrega Regional Park, was the heart of the Ducal hunting estate and the summer residence of Duchess Marie Louise, who enlarged the building and added a Court Theatre.  The Rocca, its Garden, and the Park are open to tourists and aficionados.  Our area can offer fully-equipped caravan parks, mountain bike, cycle and horse-riding trails; plus tastings of Parmesan cheese, Parma Ham and Malvasia wine on request.

TIZZANO VAL PARMA www.comune.tizzano-val-parma.pr.it
For info: Municipality of Tizzano Val Parma, tel. +39 (0)521 868936

The Municipality of Tizzano Val Parma lies at the heart of two attractive natural parks: the Valli del Cedra and the Parma Regional Park, whose highest peak is Mount Caio (1,580m a.s.l.), and the Mount Fuso Provincial Park (1,117m a.s.l.). Uncontaminated nature offers trekking, horse-riding, mountain-biking and other leisure activities in a unique landscape. On the hillside of Mount Caio, is Schia, a famous ski resort in winter and a lively resort in summer, which offers the chance to go on excursions, entertain even the smallest of children, plus accommodation and restaurant facilities. The healthy mountain air favoured the birth and development of top-quality Parma Ham and Parmesan cheese. Capoponte and Lagrimone are the two villages with the highest number of ham factories.  The Romanesque parish churches are worth a visit: the S. Pietro Apostolo Parish Curch in Costa di Tizzano and the S.Giuliana Church in Moragnano. Other musts are are the recently restored Tizzano Castle, which in the summertime is used as a natural stage for important cultural events both musical and theatrical, the Lagrimone Tower, and last but not least, of great fascination, the Belvedere tower at Rusino on the summit of Monte Fuso.

TRAVERSETOLO www.comune.traversetolo.pr.it
For Info: Commercial Office, +39 (0)521 344523-344557

Despite being just 20 kilometres from the city of Parma, Traversetolo lies in a fairly peaceful zone, between the plain and the foothills which stretch southwards towards the municipality of Neviano degli Arduini, which is home to one of the largest markets in Emilia Romagna. A tradition born two centuries ago, which every Sunday welcomes about 8,000 visitors from all over the Region. The greatest flow occurs on the occasion of the three annual fairs which receive 10,000 to 15,000 visitors: the September fair, the village festival, is the high point for both fixed and itinerant commerce, that of November celebrates the village’s patron saint, while for some years now there has been an additional spring fair in May. Traversetolo, the land of artists and poets, is home to the Palazzo Municipale (Town Hall), and the Renato Brozzi Museum. an artist who left an unmistakable mark: hundreds of his works are kept here, including paintings, sculpture, applied art, and casts, as well as many works commissioned from him by the first bard, Gabriele D'Annunzio. Another must is the Magnani Rocca Foundation at Mamiano, opened as a museum in 1990 with an art collection that includes, amongst others, works by Gentile da Fabriano, Filippo Lippi, Carpaccio, Durer, Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya and, from the modern school, Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, De Chirico, De Pisis, Burri, 50 works by Morandi, and sculptures by Canova and Bartolini.

VARANO DE MELEGARI www.comune.varano-demelegari.pr.it
For Info: Varano Town Hall, tel. +39 (0)525 550556

The village lies to the left of the River Ceno at the convergence of the roads from Bardi and Pellegrino P. se. Antico, a prehistoric settlement of the Veleiates Ligures. In Roman times it belonged to the Municipium of Velleia; in the Longobard period it became an administrative border between Parma and Piacenza. Guarding its minuscule medieval centre, on a sandstone outcrop, rise the imposing Castle, owned by the Pallavicino family until 1782 and property of the municipality since 2001. Built in 1208 on top of an earlier fortalice conceivably dating to the first three decades of the 11th century and a Roman "castrum", it owes its current appearance to fifteenth-century interventions, when it functioned as a defence-post for the Ceno valley. The manor house was visually connected with the Roccalanzona Castle above, sited in a strategic place ( 487m a.s.l.) to the north-east of the village, of which nothing remains save for an outcrop besieged by briers, but in its time of great importance, so much so that it was depicted as the "Rocha Leone", in the Camera d'Oro at Torrechiara Castle. Of note are the church of S. Martino, of ancient foundation (first mentioned in 1188) but rebuilt in the 15th century, the village of Viazzano, which was the birthplace of the painter Adelchi Venturini and whose narrow cobbled streets and tower houses mirror the medieval layout, the church of Riviano, in a splendid panoramic position and, above all, the Baptistery of Serravalle ( 8th-9thC) which is considered the most ancient Christian monument in the province of Parma.

For further Information:
Provincia di Parma - Parmapoint
Strada Garibaldi n. 18 Parma
Orario: h. 9.30-19.30
Tel. 0521 931800
info@parmapoint.it

PuntoInfoFestivaldelProsciutto
Fiere di Parma
10 -18 september, n.tel. +39 (0)521 996653 (active from 9th September)

Press Office
ufficiostampa@prosciuttodiparma.com
Tel. 0521 246 242
www.prosciuttodiparma.com