Noceto: Art, Nocino and Apennine Landscape

Noceto connects the first hills of the Parma Apennines with a varied landscape, a strong connection to Nocino and remarkable works of art in the Chiesa di San Martino. This gives you several points of interest: you can appreciate the differences in the landscape, learn about local traditions and consider cultural destinations in the near and wider surrounding area.

Landscape between hills and river

Noceto lies on the slopes of the first hills of the Parma Apennines. The area is partly flat and partly characterised by valleys and plateaus. This combination of different landforms gives the town a distinct landscape character without reducing it to a single type of landscape. In the wider regional area around Noceto, there is also Monte Canate, a mountain.

On the Taro, which forms Noceto’s eastern boundary, the Parco Fluviale Regionale del Taro has been designated a European Special Protection Area because of its great diversity of birdlife. The Parco naturale regionale dei Boschi di Carrega, a park, is also located near Noceto. Together with the valleys, plateaus and Apennine slopes, these features provide different landscape points of reference for planning your trip.

Nocino and a fixed date in the annual calendar

Production of “Nocino di Noceto” began in 2000. It uses only walnuts collected in Noceto and the recipe of the Cotti family, which has originated in Noceto for more than 400 years.

Every year on the last Sunday in September, Noceto hosts a Nocino competition. This date provides a clear seasonal highlight and makes September a particularly notable time in the local events calendar. If you are planning your trip around regional products and culinary traditions, this competition is one of the specific occasions you can take into account when making your plans.

Art in the Chiesa di San Martino

The Chiesa di San Martino contains 18 works of art catalogued as being of national interest. These include a large painting from 1832 attributed to Francesco Scaramuzza, depicting Saint Martin on horseback.

Museums and castles in the surrounding area

The Castello della Musica, a castle, is located near Noceto. The Labirinto della Masone, the Museo di Anatomia Umana Normale and the Museo del Risorgimento are also located in the area around Noceto; all three are museums. These destinations broaden the cultural horizons around Noceto through a range of different subjects, without the town itself being defined by a single attraction.

Access and location for your stay

Noceto can be reached via the Autostrada del Sole, using the Pontetaro exit. Other transport connections include the Via Emilia, a historic road linking the provincial capitals, and provincial road 357 della Cisa. When choosing a hotel in Noceto, you can consider these connections together with your personal priorities: your choice of location can be guided by culture, landscape, the September date of the Nocino competition or destinations in the surrounding region.

For further destinations in the same broader area, you can also discover Botteghino, Marore, San Polo, Bardi, Lesignano de' Bagni, Sasso, Diolo and Lemignano.

For the broader travel overview: Parma.