“Gravel tour starting from Parma, beautiful itinerary along the gravel paths near our rivers: Enza, Po, Taro and Parma.” – Into the Gravel
140KM Tour Description
“We begin with a passage inside the “Cittadella” of Parma, a 16th century pentagonal fortress, created for defensive purposes and subsequently used as a barracks and prison. We then leave the city to head towards the gravel slopes of the Enza: we enter the historic “Terre Matildiche” passing over a pedestrian bridge.”
“We continue north, along the course of the river, leaving the Enza park behind us, via secondary roads until the town of Sant’Ilario reaches d’Enza, we move away from the town to take the dirt roads that head towards the fraction of Gattatico.”
“A bit of asphalt to get to “Paulli” where a little further on we find a stretch of dirt road that runs along the Spelta canal, a short connection on asphalt and continues on gravel towards Lentigione. We cross the tracks of the historic “Parma-Suzzara” railway and take the gravel “Bernieri” which arrives in front of the Corte di San Giorgio-Tenuta Favagrossa, an ancient courtyard but today appears splendidly renovated.”
“We then take the Enza cycle path which takes us to the suggestive Parma Morta Nature Reserve, located in a humid area with high biodiversity, near which there is an aquarium in which some of the most common fish species in our internal waters can be found.We leave the reserve and along the dirt roads of Viazza and S. Antonio we reach the Asolana state road, a few meters away and we abandon it. We continue passing by the S.Urbano lakes, a gravel road connects us to the town of Sacca and a little further on to the embankment of the great river, the Po.”
“We walk along the gravel embankment that takes us to Coltaro and then take the Po Valley dirt road; with a subsequent transfer on asphalt we arrive at the embankment of the Taro river in the Gramignazzo area. We take the Taro cycle path, the first part of which is on asphalt but then a nice gravel stretch takes us to the town of Sissa.”
“From here we reach Casalfoschino where we find other dirt roads, we return to the asphalt road and take the direction of Colorno where, once we reach the town, a stop is obligatory for a visit to the Royal Palace of Colorno, a sumptuous residence built at the beginning of the 17th century, once inhabited by the Sanseverino, the Farnese, the Bourbons and Maria Luigia of Austria.”
“After a good coffee enjoyed under the arcades of the square we set off again, and we go to take the embankment that runs along the Parma: a beautiful gravel path that touches the small village of Vedole and which, crossing the Parma stream on a small wooden bridge, arrives in Torrile.”
“You change sides, but stay on the embankment, pass next to the town of Rivarolo and return to the asphalt at the church of Vicomero. After Castelnovo a couple of km and we return to the embankment again and face the last stretch that allows us to return to Parma.”
But it’s not over…
“As we cross the city, a passage awaits us in the Ducal Park, with inside the Palazzo of the same name with its imposing beauty, and the suggestive tree-lined avenue that leads to the small lake.”
“Ok, now it’s time to go back: let’s make ourselves comfortable at the table in front of a good bottle of Lambrusco and a fragrant cold cuts… From Parma of course!”
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