Villages in Italy

Passing through the historical centre of Modigliana, the gaze lingers on its small houses overlooking narrow streets, on glimpses of rare beauty and on its buildings with precious architecture. Over all this, like a severe and ancient guardian, stands the Rocca, which belonged to the Conti Guidi. Today, some elements of this imposing construction remain: the 'portacce' and the 'porta del borgo', while others have suffered the incessant wear and tear of time and have been reduced to mute remains. However, their charm remains intact - the charm of a grandiose past that still whispers its history.

Berceto: a journey back in time to the Middle Ages among the Parma Apennines Berceto is a charming village set in the Parma Apennines, located 852 metres above sea level, halfway between Parma and La Spezia. The last stop on Via Francigena before the Apennine pass is Berceto, small in size but rich in monuments and sites of interest, including the Cathedral of St Moderanno and the ruins of the Castle of Berceto. You are sure to be immediately struck by the medieval atmosphere that permeates the historic centre, among ancient alleyways, stone houses, elegant palaces built between the 12th and 17th centuries, and the cathedral overlooking the iconic, short Via Romea. From the Cathedral to Saint Apollonia chapel The Cathedral of St Moderanno dates back to the 12th century, though the neo-Romanesque façade was rebuilt in the late 19th century due to land subsidence. The central lunette is dedicated to the theme of redemption from sin, with reliefs depicting Jesus on the cross surrounded by Mary, St John and St Moderano, the patron saint of Berceto. The interior was also remodelled during the Renaissance, but the presbytery, which dates back to the medieval church, contains two centuries-old relics: the bones of St Moderanno and of the martyr St Abbondio. Inside the cathedral you will find the Saint Apollonia chapel, which is home to a small museum where you can admire an ancient glass chalice that dates back to before the 11th century. The imposing castle of Berceto once dominated the town in its prime. Today, only a few ruins remain, but they are nevertheless well worth visiting. The castle was built in 1221 by the Commune of Parma, before being abandoned over the centuries and later used as a stone quarry to supply the construction of houses in the historic centre. Just a few steps from the cathedral you can admire the restoration work on the ruins that began in 2004. Unmissable sites around Berceto Berceto doesn’t stop at its small historic centre and delicious dishes prepared with PGI Porcino Mushrooms and the ever-present Parmigiano Reggiano. Around the village, you can experience the High Apennines by horseback during the summer, exploring the small neighbouring villages. On your way down the valley from the centre of Berceto, we recommend stopping at the village of Corchia and strolling among the stone houses and paved alleyways. Continuing in the direction of La Spezia, you will come across the Cisa Pass, with the iconic Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard built in the early 1900s in the neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic style - a truly unmissable site.

Along the Ham and Wines of the Hills route in Parma In the hills south of Parma you can discover one of Italy’s most popular cured meats in the very place where this delicacy is produced. Felino, home of the prized Salame Felino PGI, is one of the agricultural centres along the Ham and Wines of the Hills route. The point of reference for visitors exploring the village is the ancient medieval manor house standing at the gates of the town: the imposing Felino Castle. Here, in the cellars of the fortress, is the Felino Salami Museum, a five-section itinerary that recounts the history of salami and the role it has played in the economy of the town and province over the centuries. If you want to immerse yourself even further in the history and traditions of the area, near Felino you can also find the Rocca di Sala Baganza castle, the ancient hunting lodge of the Farnese and Bourbon Dukes, and the Pieve di Talignano Romanesque church built in the early 12th century in Talignano, a stone’s throw from the Taro River Regional Park.

A village of mediaeval origin located near the National Park of the Casentino Forests, Meldola offers to the visitors the opportunity to relive its history with the mediaeval re-enactment "Eight castles for a palio". Every year in May, in fact, the amazing scenery of the Rocca delle Caminate Park hosts this important event: duels, flavours of the period and ancient crafts, fencing and falconry shows and, as a worthy conclusion, the great tournament between the eight teams representing the families that contended for the dominion of the stronghold. A unique, exciting spectacle.

Classe: the imposing Basilica of Sant'Apollinare within the green lung of Ravenna Classe is a district of Ravenna that took shape from the 6th century around one of the most important monuments in Emilia-Romagna, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare. Located just five kilometres south of the Romagna capital, this small town is not only home to the imposing UNESCO World Heritage monument, but is also the gateway to one of Ravenna's oldest and most important green lungs, the Classe Pinewoods, which forms part of the Po Delta Park. While the present settlement is linked to the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare, the history of Classe originates much earlier. It was in 27 B.C. when the Emperor Augustus chose this very area for the construction of a military port capable of accommodating a fleet of 250 warships tasked with guarding the eastern part of the Mediterranean. Today, what remains of the ancient port of Civitas Classis, the name of the first settlement, embellishes the area leading from Ravenna to Classe and can be visited independently by following the illustrated route starting from the junction between Via Romea Sud and Via Marabina or by taking advantage of the guided tours available upon reservation. Three wonders with just one ticket: the Classe Archaeological Park The Antico Porto, also accessible by bicycle or scooter from Ravenna city centre, is part of the larger Classe Archaeological Park, which includes a compulsory visit to Sant'Apollinare Basilica and the Classis Ravenna, the Museum of the City and Territory. You can visit all three sites in one day, taking advantage of the €11 combination ticket, with reductions available down to €5. Once you visited the port, you can go to the other two sites, located 400 metres apart. The Basilica is the one that will take you the longest, so pay attention to the times: closing time is 7.30pm., but the last entry is possible until 7pm. Start at the main entrance and allow yourself to be enchanted by the majestic mosaics created from the 6th century onwards, from those adorning the apsidal basin and triumphal arch to those embellishing the sides of the apse. Once when you are sure to have truly appreciated this masterpiece you can move to Classis for a plunge into the history of Ravenna and its territory, following the great Time Line that will mark your visit. You will find interesting insights into the Classe fleet and navigation, objects from everyday life over the centuries, and statues and mosaics that will leave you speechless. A tour of the pine forest among oases and old trees A visit to Classe cannot end without a few hours in the centuries-old pine forest: 900 hectares of unspoilt nature to be discovered on foot or by bicycle following itineraries leading to the most precious areas such as the Ortazzo and Ortazzino oases, the mouth of the Bevano river or the green area where the 18th-century Casa delle Aie stands. And don't forget that Ravenna's southern beaches and Mirabilandia area are just a stone's throw away, well connected by bicycle paths or bus services.

Maiolo is a small village that stands in a strategic position, from which you can see lands ranging from Mount Fumaiolo to the Alpe della Luna, from Mount Carpegna to San Leo, from San Marino to the sea, and this characteristic has made it, throughout history, the privileged vantage point of Montefeltro. The town also stands out for its artisan production of bread, made with local flours and traditional methods: a very special diffuse museum is dedicated to bread, consisting of about fifty ovens scattered throughout the territory.

Longiano is a Romagna village that rises between the hills and the sea, close to the Riviera, on the first hills. The Malatesta family, the Seignory that dominated Romagna for three centuries, ruled the town from 1295 to 1463: there is still a majestic trace of their passage, the Malatesta Castle, with its typically mediaeval appearance, which has recently been restored to its former splendour.

Campodimele is a village perched on the top of a hill, and from its panoramic points you can admire a landscape of double beauty: on one side, towards Monte Faggeto, the view sweeps as far as the Gulf of Gaeta, while on the other it reaches Monte Ruazzo. The ancient walls are still accessible and the walkway bears the evocative name of 'via dell'amore' (way of love). This medieval village is known to be the country 'of longevity': studies have even been carried out on the population here, in an attempt to learn the secrets of long life. Perhaps one of them is the food: here the products are genuine and of the highest quality, such as the famous PDO cicerchia, a legume from the Middle East, which grows on poor soil and is one of the typical flavours of the village.

Caprarola is dominated by the imposing Palazzo Farnese, built in the 16th century: Alessandro Farnese made it his headquarters, making the village an architecturally unique place. With its frescoed interiors, the magnificent helicoidal staircase that Alessandro Farnese used to climb on horseback, the Sala del Mappamondo with its maps depicting the then known world, the Sala degli Angeli with its special echo effect and the magnificent Italian garden, the Palazzo is a jewel not to be missed. In order to enhance the view, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola built the Via Dritta, today known as Nicolai, a long sloping perspective telescope to build which 'gutted' the town in two, dividing the medieval village into two districts, Corsica and Sardinia.

Enclosed like a treasure to be guarded by an imposing boundary wall that once protected the town from the danger of enemy raids, Boville Ernica is a charming village that still remembers, in its architecture and atmosphere, its medieval past. Amongst narrow, winding alleys, small squares and arches, people can immerse themselves in a context of great beauty. A must-see is certainly Palazzo Filonardi, dating back to the 15th century, the largest architectural complex in the village, which also includes the Abbey of San Pietro Ispano. It is here in the Abbey, a destination for spirituality and pilgrimages, that a perfectly preserved mosaic by Giotto is kept. Leaving the historical centre, however, you lose yourself in the beauty of the landscape, among the green hills and the blue sky.

Arpino is one of the oldest inhabited center in Ciociaria, Arpino, so much so that local tradition traces its foundation back to the god Saturn. There remain, from its past that is lost in the mists of time, massive 'cyclopean' walls, inside which a particular door opens: the dimensions of these walls are so imposing that the population found refuge inside them against the barbarian invasions. Arpino was the birthplace of important figures, including Caius Marius, Marcus Tullius Cicero and Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and an engraving on the town gate recalls the link with these illustrious men. Not far away is the Cistercian Abbey of Casamari, dating back to the 13th century, a veritable city in miniature, still a place of pilgrimage and spirituality today.

Between the left bank of the Tiber and the western slope of the Sabine Mountains, in a naturalistic context of great beauty, we find Casperia. Its historical centre welcomes us by telling us, with its architecture and artistic details, the stories set in the Middle Ages: fundamental points of this past are the majestic walls and the two entrance gates to the village, still standing, as well as the narrow alleys and winding stairways. But Casperia will win us over with its cuisine: a must-try is definitely the 'stringozzi', pasta made only of water and flour, usually served with meat sauce, or in white with porcini mushrooms, intense earthy flavours with a long history intertwined with the territory.