La Collina: Cheese, Trails and Regional Experiences

La Collina can be experienced through a cheese dairy tour, regional products, routes to Massa and the cultural surroundings of Massa. At Latteria Sociale La Collina, the production and tasting of Parmigiano Reggiano take center stage.

A cheese dairy offering insights into production

A guided tour of the cheese dairy at Latteria Sociale La Collina is possible by prior reservation; reservations are mandatory. The tour lasts approximately one hour and concludes with a tasting. During the tour, visitors can observe every stage of milk processing: from cooking and forming the curd to salting.

Tours of the cheese dairy can be booked from Tuesday to Sunday. If you would like to observe all processing stages in full, arrival by 9:30 a.m. is recommended. The tasting at the end of the tour includes the main stages of Parmigiano Reggiano maturation. For a morning visit, the approximately one-hour duration can be incorporated into the day’s itinerary in La Collina.

Parmigiano Reggiano and specialties of the Apennines

In addition to Parmigiano Reggiano, the tasting also includes ricotta and other typical products of the Reggio Apennines. The shop at Latteria Sociale La Collina sells its own products as well as other typical specialties from the surrounding area. These come from small local artisan producers. Shopping on site therefore extends beyond the products of the dairy and also includes small local artisan businesses.

Today, nine farms run by young people work as livestock breeders and producers of Parmigiano Reggiano, following the teachings of their grandparents.

Routes to Massa and through La Collina

The Sentiero DELLA PASQUA DI SANGUE passes through La Collina and then continues uphill along a road to Massa. When planning a route, this uphill section on the road is a practical factor to consider. In addition, a hiking trail connects Via dell’Aigume with La Collina. Anyone following the route to Massa on foot should take the uphill road section into account when planning their day’s stage.

Ristorante La Collina can be reached from the main town of Toano via the SP 8 in the direction of Cerredolo; from there, the turnoff to Massa leads to the restaurant. It is located 2 km from the main town. In connection with Latteria Sociale La Collina, there is also the option of having lunch at Ristorante La Collina. Lunch at Ristorante La Collina can extend your stay at the dairy beyond the tour.

Festivals and a possible Matildic origin

In the area around La Collina, the Pro Loco di Massa organizes the Festa dell’Antica Trebbiatura in July. The Chiesa di San Michele di Massa is also known as Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo and probably has Matildic origins.

Other places in the area

You can also explore La Villa, Viano, San Donnino Di Liguria, Baiso, Villarotta, Cervarezza, Vezzano Sul Crostolo and Barco.

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Emilia.