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10 Things to Do and See in Val Tidone

Between the provinces of Pavia and Piacenza , between Emilia Romagna and Lombardy  a rich land of quiet and beauty expands. It is  Val Tidone , which comes to its travelers as an unexpected surprise, where we rediscover the authentic taste of Italy less well known. Val Tidone is made of silence , hills, forests , vineyards and castles.

We selected the 10 things not to miss in this valley to discover its landscapes, understand the history, taste flavors and perfumes.

1. Visit the Rocca d’Olgisio

It is the most ancient fortress of Piacenza, and probably the most impressive due to its architecture and its dominant position on the Val Tidone. The complex is guarded by six beautiful city walls and complements its medieval and Renaissance structures. Nearby you can visit several natural caves that dot the area, used by primitive man as habitation and burial sites.

2. Take the Mill Road in Val Tidone

Along the Tidone river there is a road that tells us about the tradition of millers , their jobs, the development of these places. The Mill Road along the middle and upper Val Tidone and is dotted with almost  fifty mills , some dating back to the year 1000 . Some of them still have got the old working equipment.

3. Walk along the Path of Tidone

On foot, by bike, but also on horseback. Walk along the river Tidone means immerse yourself in the scenic beauty , so varied and impressive, of Val Tidone following an unusual route from the confluence of the Po to the source of the Tidone. The Tidone Trail is 69 km long and crosses two regions: Emilia Romagna and Lombardy.

4. Discover the Lake Trebecco and the Molato Dyke

Just down the Path of Tidone, a few kilometers from the source, there is a spectacular feat of engineering , the dam of Molato that creates an artificial reservoir . It is a century-old dam, almost swallowed up by the green. It was built in 1920 and still bears the marks of that historical period.

5. Sleep in an organic farm among the hills

You wake up with the smell of homemade cakes and leavened bread with sourdough and freshly ground wheat, served along with various homemade jams . The stone farmhouse is an oasis of  silence , occasionally interrupted by the chirping of the nightingale or the roar of the Tidone stream. On the brow of a hill, this beautiful organic farm and powered by green energy it is surrounded by lush nature and is the ideal place to detox physically and spiritually.

6. Trace the history in the Archaeological Museum of Val Tidone

In the basement of the beautiful Municipal Fortress of Pianello Val Tidone you can reconstruct the past of the valley thanks to the many findings preserved in this interesting museum . So you can discover the prehistoric era , Roman era and until the Middle Ages. The entrance to the museum is free .

7. Take part to Valtidone Wine Fest

Every September , on weekends, you can taste aromas , flavors and nuances of fine wines  during the largest wine festival in the Vicenza . In the picturesque resort of Val Tidone you will be able to know the Orturgo, Malvasia, Gutturnio and indigenous sweet wines accompanied by concerts , dinners, guided tours and other events .

8. Relax at the Alpine Garden of Pietra Corva

At 950m above sea level, on the slopes of Monte Pietra di Corvo , there is a beautiful botanical garden , perfect for a relaxing day in nature, among blacks pine, the Fritillaria meleagris snake’s head fritillary and rare plants from all over the world.

9. Taste the Piacenza wine

Val Tidone has a great culinary tradition , varied and delicious. Perhaps the best representation of this tradition lies in the wines, especially in the DOC Gutturnio, Ortrugo and Colli Piacentini, but also Barbera Valtidone IGT , red wine by delicate shades and scents; perfect with the typical flavors of Piacenza.

10. Visit the nativity scene of Strà Sanctuary

For more than 30 years for the Christmas holidays in Val Tidone a beautiful animated nativity scene take life in an area of ​​about 20 square meters. It is built with recycled materials and its special feature are the 27 mechanical movements that animate the characters: the child lift from the cradle, Mary leans towards him, a blacksmith working on a tool, the laundress working on the wash house, a woman cooking, a man roasts a pig.

History, nature, castles and typical products will complete a journey through picturesque locations and fabulous views, in a corner of authentic Italy.

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Tidone Valley

Val Tidone is dominated by an undisputed nature between rocky spurs and hills dotted with vineyards. The villages “painted” in the landscape dot this enchanted valley, characterized by numerous churches, sanctuaries and ancient castles.

The beauties of Val Tidone, its colors and its heritage, can be perceived along the panoramic roads along the ridges of the slopes. Val Tidone is in fact a borderland, still crossed by pilgrims through its historical and naturalistic paths.

Food and wine in Val Tidone… Perhaps for this alone it would be worth a visit to this beautiful valley!

The cuisine is varied and rich in taste and thanks to its producers confirms the primacy of Piacenza as the only province in Europe with 3 DOP cold cuts such as Coppa Piacentina, Pancetta piacentina and Salame piacentino. You can find homemade cured meats such as “salame gentile”, “mariola”, “gras pist” (minced pork lard with knife and garlic) and the famous “ciccioli” or “graséi” (pieces of meat and pork fat cooked, salted and dried).

From Cotechino to “buslan”, to “chisöla” (focaccia with cracklings) you can taste the tradition through special De.Co products. But the undisputed symbol of street food in the valley is the batarò: a puffy oval sandwich that eaten warm enhances the flavors of salami or cheese.

In these clayey lands are produced excellent wines typical of the DOC Colli Piacentini: Gutturnio, Malvasia di Candia Aromatica and Ortrugo. The numerous companies in the area work the vineyards respecting the local tradition in combination with the best cellar technology; They welcome the visitor for visits, guided tastings, walks through the vineyards, organize picnics and dinners in the vineyard immersed in a unique atmosphere. The wines of Val Tidone are a real treasure to accompany and complete the dishes and typical local products.

The beauty of Val Tidone is made of attention and care both for the products of the earth and for guests who want to discover it.

Explore the surroundings

Road of wines and flavors of the colli piacentini, san lupo sacellum, val tidone archaeological museum, civiltà della macinazione museum, fortress of olgisio, path of tidone, santa maria del monte sanctuary, the wild boars of valtidone, astronomical observatory in monte lazzarello di pecorara, village of luzzano.

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Pianello Val Tidone

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Autumn excursions in Val Tidone

by Alessandra Pradelli /// January 31, 2023 Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

The end of summer is the perfect season to extend the summer enthusiasm and enjoy a weekend in the open air: temperatures are still pleasant and tempting to leave for adventures towards unusual destinations , better if surrounded by the Italian countryside .

So here are some ideas to discover the hills of Piacenza , already famous for the production of prestigious wines and the amazing nature that surrounds them!

• Trekking and Mountain Bike

The Val Tidone is an excellent destination for all those who like to slowly enjoy the beauties of nature and offers the opportunity to make excursions of all levels of difficulty .

There are many marked trails that you can travel on foot or by mountain bike . Among the many, we suggest the CAI Path 209 from which you can climb the ancient Rocca d’Olgisio  and admire some of the natural caves in the surroundings.

For trekking enthusiasts, we recommend the “ Sentiero del Tidone “ , a 69 km long hiking route that, surrounded by nature, runs along the stream from the source on the mountains to the mouth in the Po.

The Sentiero del Tidone is a path that flows through two regions (Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy), two provinces and many municipalities it is thus possible to admire the many natural beauties that Val Tidone gives us.

For MTB enthusiasts we suggest instead the 150 km of marked and tabulated paths that you can travel independently without fear of getting lost.

The routes are all structured in a ring, winding between the 200 meters asl of Pianello Val Tidone and the 800 meters asl of Monte Aldone, crossing suggestive points of the Piacenza Apennines such as Val Chiarone and Val Luretta.

It is also possible to rent the MTB on site (advance booking required) and take part in guided tours.

Another way to discover the amazing Val Tidone is to drive along its mountains and hills by car.

Because of its strategic position between the Po Valley and Lombardy, Val Tidone has been a border and transit place since ancient times; a function testified by the findings of the Roman age, the numerous castles and ancient roads that passed through the valley.

The valley, wide and sunny, with meadows and soft hills planted with orchards and vineyards, woods and pine forests in the highest part, promises quiet and relaxation and it is ideal for nature excursions.

The route, to discover the flavors and aromas of this valley, starts from Castel San Giovanni . In the 14th century, in the center of the town, the Collegiate Church of San Giovanni was built in Gothic-Lombard style, later enriched with Baroque stuccoes.

The nearby church of San Rocco dates back to 1476, while the renaissance Santa Maria in Torricelle was built in 1576. Nearby Villa Braghieri Albesani, a late seventeenth-century building, is surrounded by a park full of old trees.

From Castel San Giovanni, through the road that leads to Crete, passing through Luzzano and Vicobarone, admiring the sinuous hills from the ordered vineyards, you can get to Ziano Piacentino : its territory, between the province of Piacenza and that of Pavia, is rich in food and wine traditions.

Among these, a dish from Pisarei and Faso ‘is not to be missed: it is an ancient Emilian recipe, handed down from generation to generation, consisting of small gnocchi of flour and breadcrumbs seasoned with beans, lard, onion, and tomato.

From Ziano Piacentino, in a few minutes, you can stop at Borgonovo Val Tidone , just the time to visit the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Gothic-Lombard style.

Driving along the state road 412, admiring vineyards that cover the hillside humps and following the sinuousness with precision, you get finally to Pianello Val Tidone , located in an area already inhabited in Roman times; the findings surfaced in the surrounding countryside are preserved in the Archaeological Museum housed in a part of the castle.

Not far away, perched on a rocky outcrop stands the Rocca d’Olgisio, already documented in the eleventh century.

The main road leads to the village of Nibbiano : in this small hamlet, some elements of the ancient castle are recognizable in the surrounding rural houses, such as the tower, at the entrance to the town, and the small square with a porticoed structure.

From Nibbiano in a few minutes, you can get to Caminata , a small fortified village, which seems to derive its name from the narrow secret paths that cross it.

Part of these secret passages is still visible along with the towers, stone houses, and ancient medieval shops. Returning to Pianello Val Tidone, you can reach Piozzano , whose territory is fundamental to admire the landscape before crossing the Val Luretta : here the view is lost on very landscapes suggestive.

The autumn excursions in Val Tidone cannot be complete if you do not focus on the many gastronomic goodnesses that are produced here: meats, stuffed pasta, and game are the products of excellence of this valley, along with many other small productions that are worth to discover.

Alessandra Pradelli

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Alta Val Tidone

• Destination Emilia
• Province Piacenza
• Distance from the provincial capital 40 km

Why visit it

When to go and what to see.

• Don't miss

On the table

Keeping fit, significant appointments, in the surroundings.

Born out of the union of Nibbiano, Pecorara and Caminata, this municipality is situated on the hills of Val Tidone, surrounded by a suggestive natural landscape, full of bushes and different kind of flowers which coexist with the local agricultural activity.

Plunge into nature without forgetting the history and agricultural tradition of this territory dotted with historic mills.

Every season offers different colours, smells, experiences: the rebirth of nature in spring, the stars in summer, the colourful vineyards in autumn and the mills festival in November.

The "must see" in Nibbiano are the Castle, which can usually be seen only from the outside because it's a private residence, and the church dedicated to San Pietro.

In Pecorara the church of San Giorgio, built starting from 1792, presents the typical characters of Baroque, i.e. stucco and an altar which comes from San Vincenzo in  Piacenza .

A walk along the streets of Caminata gives the idea of its ancient secret paths, no longer visible. The towers witness this town's previous role as an outpost, and the atmosphere of the Middle Ages is still noticeable in the traditional shops and houses made of stones. Caminata also played the role of customs between the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and the Sabaudia state. The church of Santi Sinforiano and Timoteo is also a must-see.

Impossible to leave this area without trying the "batarö", a typical sandwich baked quickly in a wood oven, to be eaten with local  salumi ( coppa ,  pancetta ,  salame )  or cheese .

Taking a glance at the stars in a real observatory in Lazzarello, maybe during the night of San Lorenzo, is possible, thanks to the Gruppo Astrofili of Piacenza.

The associations of the territory offer the opportunity of  going trekking or riding mountain bikes  along the  Tidone river footpath .

In the second part of the year some events of the Appennino festival and  Val Tidone Festival take place in Comune Alta Val Tidone. In September this area is the perfect location of the Val Tidone Wine Fest. There are other festivals dedicated to food: the truffle fest in October, the millers' fest in November, the medieval reenactment during San Colombano's Day .

There's an important Sanctuary in Strà dedicated to the Virgin; an ancient Castle and the church of S. Andrea in Sala Mandelli, where the Batarö Fest takes place; in Trevozzo, Carreggio, Tassara, Stradera, Torre Gandini, Corticelli, Genepreto, Trebecco there are lots of towers, castles and parish churches.

For those who love nature Diga del Molato and Giardino Alpino di Pietra Corva are undoubtedly a "must see". In the context of Castles of the Duchy circuit  Rocca d'Olgisio  is open to visitors. 

Editorial Staff

Getting there, you may also like..., valtidone wine fest, borgo in fiore, the glacial lakes of the tuscan-emilian apennines., more than just bread, find the best facilities for your holidays in emilia romagna.

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Popular places to visit.

• Rocca d'Olgisio

Learn about the local history of Trevozzo with a stop at Rocca d'Olgisio. Discover the countryside while you're in the area.

• Shrine of Our Lady Virgin Mother of the People

You can learn about the history of Nibbiano when you stop by Shrine of Our Lady Virgin Mother of the People. Wander the parks or discover the area's countryside.

• Cities near Nibbiano

Borgonovo Val Tidone

• Places of interest
• Circuito Tazio Nuvolari
• University of Pavia
• Duomo di Piacenza
• 7 Laghi Kart
• Teatro Fraschini
• Frecciarossa Estate
• Cathedral of Pavia
• Piazza Cavalli
• Visconti Castle & Civic Museums
• Gropparello Castle
• Piazza della Vittoria
• Grazzano Visconti Castle
• Ponte Coperto
• House Museum Fausto Coppi
• Chiesa di San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro
• Ostello Santa Maria in Betlem
• Basilica of Santa Maria di Campagna
• San Sisto Church
• Azienda Agricola Stefano Milanesi
• Ponte Gobbo

Val Tidone Competitions, Italy

Val Tidone (Piacenza), Italy

Deadline: March 25th

The Val Tidone International Music Competitions are open to musicians from any country.

Sections: Piano Chamber Music (Ensembles from 2 to 10 members) Secondary School (Ensembles and Orchestras) YOUth Got Talent (open to all solo instrumentalists and singers, of any kind of musical genre)

Click to access ValTidone-EN.pdf

1st Classified (90-100 points) Gold medal and Diploma cash prize as specified below 2nd Classified (80-89 points) Silver medal and Diploma 3rd Classified (70-79 points) Bronze medal and Diploma 4th Classified (60-69 points) Certificate of Merit

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• Escursioni in Val Tidone Trekking

Il Sentiero del Tidone in 4 tappe

I vini della Val Tidone

Cosa vedere nei dintorni di Rocca d’Olgisio

Il Sentiero del Tidone è un piccolo gioiello della Val Tidone: 69 km che costeggiano il corso del torrente, dalla Foce alla Sorgente. Già perché il km 0 è proprio vicino al punto dove il torrente finisce la sua corsa nel Po! Il Sentiero, percorribile a piedi, in bicicletta o a cavallo , risale poi l’intero corso del torrente, attraversando paesaggi magnifici dalla pianura alla collina, fino ad arrivare all’Alta Valle, là dove il Tidone nasce alle pendici del Monte Penice (e siamo già in Lombardia!). Due province, due regioni e un ampio territorio da scoprire.

L’intero Sentiero è tabellato e ben segnalato , mantenuto costantemente dai volontari dell’Associazione Sentiero del Tidone, che si dedicano con grande passione alla cura del percorso. Esistono diversi punti di accesso e mappe dettagliate che ti consentono di percorrere il Sentiero in totale autonomia, ma durante il corso dell’anno vengono organizzate escursioni ed eventi con guide ambientali abilitate (rimani aggiornato nella nostra sezione eventi ).

Noi ti proponiamo di farlo in 4 tappe: ricordati che il Sentiero del Tidone ha un percorso lineare, 4 tappe sono ideali per godersi il viaggio oppure per affrontarlo in periodi diversi. Ma c’è anche chi è partito all’alba e l’ha percorso tutto in un solo giorno: a te la scelta, ciò che non cambia è la bellezza dell’avventura!

Indice dei contenuti

Dalla Foce a Bilegno (21 km)

Come ti abbiamo svelato in apertura, il Sentiero del Tidone inizia alla foce del Torrente: il Km0 si trova a Boscone Cusani. Il primo tratto ti permetterà di entrare in contatto con il territorio pianeggiante tipico della Pianura del Po : grandi campi coltivati circondati dalle prime colline che si stagliano all’orizzonte. Sapevi che vicino alla Foce del Tidone e al Sentiero del Tidone trovi l’unico guado sul Po lungo la Via Francigena? Si tratta del Guado di Sigerico : una storia millenaria accompagna questo luogo dove ancora oggi puoi incontrare pellegrini lungo il percorso.

Il punto di arrivo di questa prima tappa è Bilegno, frazione del Comune di Borgonovo Val Tidone da cui dista pochi chilometri. Se vuoi scoprire cosa vedere a Borgonovo, clicca qui per un approfondimento!

Verso le Colline fino a Pianello (10 km)

Nella seconda tappa alla scoperta del Sentiero del Tidone, il paesaggio si fa decisamente più collinare e ti permette di scoprire, alzando gli occhi verso il cielo, alcune delle vette più conosciute del territorio. Sulla tua sinistra il Borgo di Arcello, sulla tua destra puoi già intravedere il Santuario della Madonna del Monte e il borgo di Genepreto che custodisce alcuni segreti culinari che puoi scoprire qui . Il Sentiero attraversa Pianello Val Tidone che con la sua piazza su cui si affaccia la Rocca Municipale è una piccola perla.

Raggiungere la Diga del Molato (14 km)

Superato l’abitato di Pianello Val Tidone, inizia la fatica! Ma niente di troppo impegnativo, non preoccuparti: anzi stai per intraprendere una nuova tappa che ti farà conoscere borghi incantevoli dell’Alta Val Tidone come Nibbiano e Caminata , prima di raggiungere la Diga del Molato e il Lago di Trebecco. Qui il Sentiero costeggia tutto l’invaso , creando giochi di luce e prospettiva da non perdere. E se vuoi scoprire cosa fare nei dintorni, leggi i nostri suggerimenti !

L’ultimo tratto: la Sorgente (25 km)

Proseguendo il Percorso puoi vedere in lontananza il Castello di Zavattarello che svetta tra le montagne: superato il Lago di Trebecco ti troverai già in provincia di Pavia e quindi in Lombardia. Il Sentiero del Tidone si immerge ancora di più nei paesaggi appenninici e nei boschi che circondano la Sorgente del Tidone. Tra i vari punti di accesso in questa parte del percorso anche quello dal Giardino Alpino di Pietra Corva, un luogo che racchiude tantissime specie di fiori e piante. La fine del percorso arriva proprio alla Sorgente che si trova in località Casa Matti di Romagnese.

Speriamo che questi suggerimenti ti siano utili: se hai bisogno di una dritta, non esitare a contattarci!

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