Forno in Soarza: Po Landscape and Village History

Forno and Soarza

Forno is the southern borgata “Il Forno” within Soarza. This connection is important for orientation: in nearby Soarza, the historical significance is linked to the Po; its port and mills contributed to trade, levies, and customs duties for centuries. The present-day building structure there has remained practically unchanged since the 19th century and represents an example of a 19th-century agricultural settlement.

Historic Soarza

At Fattoria Pissavacca in nearby Soarza, a monumental gateway with brick pillars leads via a driveway to the manor house. The neo-Gothic Church of San Giovanni Battista, built in 1928, also stands there. In the area around Soarza, the Rudon is an octagonal 19th-century water well with a pulley system operated by a mule or horse. The monumental gateway, the church, and the well reveal different architectural forms: an entrance, a religious building, and historic water lifting.

Po Floodplain and Isola Giarola

Isola Giarola Park is located in the Po floodplain within the municipality of Villanova sull'Arda; its renaturalized banks are home to the typical flora and fauna of river wetlands. As a river park, it offers visitors educational trails, fishing opportunities, a guided ecological and natural-history trail, a fitness course, bicycle rental, and walking paths. For planning a day, the educational trails, walking paths, and fitness course can be used as different focal points; bicycle rental and fishing opportunities complement a stay by the river. The renaturalized banks and the variety of paths make this landscape area appealing for nature observation, exercise, and time spent by the water.

Activities and Festivals

FATA Morgana ASD offers horse training as well as horseback rides along the banks of the Po and through the surrounding countryside. At FATA Morgana ASD, rides along the Po or through the countryside complement horse training as a second activity there. In Villanova sull’Arda, the Festa dei ciliegi in fiore is a traditional annual event. It includes walks among the cherry trees and cycling excursions within the municipality. In Soarza, the traditional Sagra della rana e del pesce takes place every year on the last Sunday in May. When planning a trip, the last Sunday in May can be taken into account as the date for the Sagra.

Regional Cuisine by the River

Along the Strada del Po e dei Sapori della Bassa Piacentina, travelers can enjoy traditional dishes of the Great River in characteristic inns along the Po. These include smoked eel, stricc’ in carpion, fried ambolina, catfish, and frogs. This selection connects the river landscape with regionally influenced cuisine; smoked eel, fish, and frog also give the area a distinctive culinary character.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

More places to keep in mind for your trip to Italy: Piacenza, Pianello Val Tidone, Pontenure, Morfasso, Larzano-castello, San Nicolò, Bicchignano, Castel San Giovanni.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Piacenza.