Toano amid mountain landscapes and medieval culture
Accommodation in Toano
Toano combines a completely mountainous landscape with medieval cultural sites and paths through the natural environment. Ancient glacial erosion and more recent fluvial erosion have shaped the municipal area. Since June 2015, Toano has been part of the UNESCO Appennino Tosco-Emiliano MAB area. If you are looking for a place where historic architecture, trails, and landscape come together, Toano offers several clearly distinct points of interest for this.
File:Badlands 02 - Fora, Toano, Reggio Emilia, Italy - October 16, 2016.jpg
Photo: Giorgio Galeotti via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Medieval architecture and living traditions
The cultural sites include the Casa dei Ceccati in Stiano, a medieval fortified Apennine house dating from the 14th to the early 15th century. The Pieve matildica di Santa Maria in Castello in Toano is considered the oldest example of medieval architecture in this area. Visits to the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta in Toano are possible on Sundays by prior reservation; the reservation must be made at least 48 hours in advance. The bell tower of the Church of San Martino in Corneto was designed by Antonio Ceccati and built between 1668 and 1676.
Following in the footsteps of the Ceccati family and through the landscape
The Sentiero dei Ceccati is dedicated to the family of artists known as the Ceccati, who made a name for themselves in woodwork and stone sculpture. The Centro studi I Ceccati is the ideal destination on the Sentiero dei Ceccati nature and art-cultural circular trail. The Oratorio della Madonna della Neve near Cavola houses a wooden altarpiece by the Ceccati family. For several years, Manno Medioevale has featured a historical procession in costume, a medieval banquet, performances, and a medieval market showcasing traditional crafts.
For active days, several trails with different characteristics take center stage. The Sentiero dei Canepari is an almost completely level circular trail that begins and ends in the hamlet of Quara. The Sentiero dei Ceccati begins and ends in Corneto. The Sentiero San Pellegrino leads from Toano to a well-known sanctuary in the province of Lucca.
Rocks, water, and special natural attractions
The landscape becomes particularly tangible at the Balze di Malpasso near Quara. They are a geosite with exposed sandstone cliffs, where streams have carved deeply incised sections of valley. There is a small via ferrata there with two equipped routes leading to the summit of Pizzo di Castel Pizzigolo. A well-signposted path to the Balze di Malpasso begins near Castagnola in the municipality of Toano; parking is available nearby, close to a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Rio Malpasso waterfall can also be reached via an easy walk, without having to use the via ferrata or the suspension bridges.
Quara and mountain cuisine
The sources of Quara lie along the course of the Dolo; their thermal waters have been known since Roman antiquity. The mountain character is also evident in the local cuisine: mountain cuisine includes green tortelli, pumpkin tortelli, and potato tortelli. Torta di patate is served as a starter, side dish, or vegetarian main course.
When searching for a hotel or other accommodation in Toano, you can decide on the focus of your stay: historic architecture, circular trails, rocky landscapes, religious sites, or mountain cuisine. When travelling from Reggio Emilia, the signposted route follows the SS 476 to Veggia and then the SS 486 towards Cerredolo and Toano.
More places for orientation
Castelnovo Di Sotto, La Villa, Montecatini, Castelnovo Ne' Monti, Fogliano, Borzano, San Giovanni, Campegine
For the higher-level travel overview: Reggio Emilia.
