Let’s start with Casina, home to the Ars Canusina Consortium, one of the many regional handicraft activities, which displays motifs of the art and architecture of the Canossa family. Their handicrafts include handmade embroidery on fabric, ceramic objects and wrought-iron furniture.

Nearby you will find the castles of Sarzano (not to be confused with La Spezia’s Sarzana) and Leguigno, from which you can gaze out over the peaks of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the surrounding valleys, including the extraordinary and notorious Pietra di Bismantova, one of the places in Emilia-Romagna sung about by Dante.

Then just wander aimlessly to discover medieval villages built with stone houses, castles and ancient churches and follow trails among rocks and streams.

Known for the Pietra di Bismantova (Bismantova Stone), Castelnovo né Monti is a medieval town with a small centre set on the slopes of Monte Castello, on the top of which lie the remains of the fortification.

The imposing limestone rock is a popular destination for thousands of visitors every year, and some scholars believe that the poet Dante Alighieri would have personally visited the place in 1306. A perfect spot to marvel at nature.

If you happen to meet Italian or foreign sportspeople here, it is no coincidence: numerous teams, not only national ones, have been coming to Castelnovo for several years for athletic and technical training courses.

In Felina, its largest hamlet, we recommend a walk along the path (also suitable for children) that leads to Mount Fosola, where you can relax on one of Emilia Romagna’s Giant Benches.

Carpineti is also located in the Reggio hills, between the Secchia and Tresinaro valleys.

The name probably originates from the castle of the Carpinete, overlooking the town. Located in a strategic position on Mount Antognano, this was Countess Matilde’s favourite residence, offering a striking view that sweeps from the Apennine ridge to the plains.

In the surrounding area there are numerous paths and cart roads, perfect for a hike while enjoying the Apennine Reggiano landscape, villages with stone houses and medieval churches, such as San Donnino or Valestra.

Lastly, don’t forget to visit the hamlet of Marola, which, immersed in a centuries-old chestnut grove, is an ideal place to visit in summer if you are looking for some cool air.

Situated between the Secchia valley and the ridge, the territory of Toano has been inhabited since Roman times, but its importance increased in the Middle Ages, a time when it became the epicentre of European history thanks to the Canossa family.

Two unmissable places are the Matildic parish church of Santa Maria di Castello and its archaeological site, and the Balze di Malpasso, a geological site where sandstone rocks outcrop.

A tip for truffle lovers: excellent white truffles and black summer truffles can be sampled in the hamlet of Cavola.

Ventasso is a multi-faceted town, as it was created from the merger of the historic municipalities of Busana, Cervarezza, Collagna, Ligonchio and Ramiseto.

Points of interest you should not miss include Lake Calamone in Ramiseto, the Art Nouveau-style Enel power station, the Giant Bench in Ligonchio, the Cork Museum in Busana, the centuries-old chestnut groves and metati in Collagna, the Cervarezza Spa and the nearby Cerwood Adventure Park.

Also worth mentioning are Cerreto Laghi and Ventasso Laghi, winter sports resorts that can also be enjoyed in the summer by enjoying trekking and/or walking both in the mountains and at the glacial lakes.

You should also pay a visit to the villages of the Valli dei Cavalieri (Cecciola, Montedello, Cereggio, Gazzolo, Nismozza, Vallisnera, Ca’ Ferrari, Cinquecerri, Vaglie ), featuring tower-houses (buildings at least 3 storeys high, with windows and portals made of dressed stone) and narrow streets overlooked by vaults creating subways.

The origins of Vetto, a natural balcony on the right bank of the Enza river, date back to the Middle Ages, when the Da Palù family, loyal to the famous Canossa family, ruled here.

The village – divided into the three neighbouring areas of ‘il borgo’, ‘cà boccio’, and ‘il castello’- features historical buildings including: the Romanesque Church of San Lorenzo, restored in the mid-1600s, and the Osteria del Turo, a massive 17th-century tower house.

The Enza, Tassaro and Tassobbio valleys offer many opportunities for a trip, from small hamlets to peaceful walks or hikes such as the Sentiero dei Ducati.

Villa Minozzo, nestled in the high Apennines of Reggio Emilia, is famous for being the birthplace of the champion Giuliano Razzoli, who took his first ‘steps’ on skis in this area between the ridge of Mount Cusna, the Dolo and Secchia valleys and the forage fields.

In this village you will have the opportunity to try the traditional food and wine at one of the numerous refuges of the area.

Nearby are Civago, the starting point for numerous excursions to the peaks of the ridge, Minozzo, which stands on an outcrop of ophiolite, where the ancient fortress of the village was built in the Middle Ages, and Febbio, where you can enjoy downhill skiing, hiking and mountain biking depending on the season.