A journey through the Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and Pontremoli. We start from the spa town, (recommended free car parking in Via del Lavoro) to go up to Tabiano the "City of Breath" then passing through Fidenza, we head to Soragna, with the thirteenth-century Rock Meli Lupi restored in the seventeenth century. From here proceed to the Fortress San Vitale of Fontanellato, surrounded by a water moat and embellished by a room painted by Parmigianino in 1524. A small break and continues towards San Second with the Rock of the Reds, the building was then converted into a lavish residence. The track resumes by pedalling on the roads of the "lower Parmense", to reach Rocccabianca and the castle built by the Magnificent Pier Maria Rossi for the beloved Bianca Pellegrini in the middle of the 1400s. It follows a stop in the lands of Maestro Giuseppe Verdi: Sanboseto, Madonna Prati, Spigarolo to finally arrive in Busseto. (Leaving the track slightly you can get to Roncole Verdi, a hamlet of Busseto that houses Giuseppe Verdi's native house (birthplace).) On the route still two fine stages: the abbey of Chiaravalle della Dove, led by the Cistercian monks, where between May and June takes place the famous "Flower of Corpus Christi", in the central nave of the basilica is set up a wonderful flower carpet. On the way back to Scipione Castle, you will meet the castle of the Marquis Pallavicino dating back to the 11th century. Return to Salsomaggiore Terme, passing the San Nicomede resort where the road runs along the Stirone Regional Fluvial Park.

Elevation profile

Crossed locations

• 1  Salsomaggiore Terme
   - Start 0,0 km
• 2  Tabiano Bagni
   4,0 km
• 3  Fidenza
   10,0 km
• 4  Soragna
   22,5 km
• 5  Fontanellato
   29,9 km
• 6  San Secondo
   36,9 km
• 7  Fontanelle
   42,6 km
• 8  Diolo
   53,3 km
• 9  Sanboseto
   56,9 km
• 10  Madonna dei Prati
   60,8 km
• 11  Spigarolo
   63,0 km
• 12  Busseto
   64,6 km
• 13  Bersano
   67,2 km
• 14  Mercore
   70,5 km
• 15  Chiaravalle della Colomba
   75,4 km
• 16  Alseno
   79,2 km
• 17  Castelnuovo Fogliani
   82,5 km
• 18  Scipione Ponte
   88,3 km
• 19  San Nicomede
   90,8 km
• 20  Salsomaggiore Terme
   - Arrivo 98 km

Itinerary highlights

Chiaravalle della Colomba (Alseno) - Cistercian Abbey

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The Abbey is included in the two Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: "Via Francigena" and "Route Européenne des Abbayes Cicterciennes". The name "the Dove" is due to a legend that tells how the perimeter of the monastery was indicated to the monks by a white dove.

Castelnuovo Fogliani (Alseno) - Church of San Biagio

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8 kilometres from Chiaravalle you can visit the charming village of Castelnuovo Fogliani and the Church of St. Biagio Bishop.

Parish Church of San Nicomede

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The small church of St. Nicomede, preserves almost intact the Romanesque forms of the 12th century.