A cultural stay
Emilia offers numerous places of artistic and cultural interest. For anyone staying at I Casali di Tabiano, it is definitely impossible to get bored! Relaxing moments surrounded by the green countryside alternate with pleasant outings to discover castles, churches, museums, historic buildings and a maze that is unique in the world.
Castle and Borgo (village) di Tabiano
The Borgo di Tabiano is today a widespread charm hotel, inserted among the historic residences of Italy. Located over 300 metres above sea level, in the hills of the province of Parma, surrounded by oak woods and unspoiled countryside, it dominates the plain with a view as far as the eye can see, from the Alps to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. Over the years, the medieval castle has been at the centre of many historic events, being at the centre of an important itineraries such as that of the Via Francigena. Since the second half of the 19th century, the Corazza family has transformed the village into an important farm.
Parma, Capital of Culture
There are numerous points of interest in the city of Parma, which is also known as "little Paris". Absolutely not to be missed The Royal Theater, the Pilotta Palace, the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the National Gallery, the Farnese Theater, the Steccata Church and the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist. Not surprisingly, Parma was chosen as the Capital of Culture for 2020 and 2021.
Salsomaggiore Terme and Berzieri Thermal Baths
The Berzieri Thermal Baths Palace is a Liberty and Déco style jewel, symbol of Salsomaggiore Terme and of European spas. In 1912 architect Ugo Giusti started the project, which was completed by Galileo Chini in 1923 after a brief interruption of the work. The result is a building that is unique in the world, which blends oriental influences with the Tuscan cultural tradition. The façade and the interiors incorporate motifs and silhouettes of animals through ornamental and dynamic lines, typical of the Liberty style, while inside there are various elements in metal, one of the most used materials in Art Déco. Also not to be missed are the Congress Palace and the Mazzini Park.
The Castles of the Duchy
The provinces of Parma and Piacenza are full of fascinating castles and fortresses to be visited and admired. In addition to our jewel, Tabiano, among the most famous we find: the castles of Torrechiara, Roccabianca, Felino, Montechiarugolo, Contignaco and Scipione in the Province of Parma; the castles of Agazzano, Bobbio, Rivalta, Paderna and San Pietro in Cerro in the province of Piacenza. What about the Borgo di Vigoleno, the Bardi Fortress, the Fortresses of Sala Baganza, San Secondo and Castell'Arquato? Unique attractions that have an undisputed charm.
Terre Verdiane and Verdi Festival
The municipalities of Busseto, Parma, Soragna, Fontanellato, San Secondo, Zibello, Roccabianca and Salsomaggiore Terme are part of what is known as the Terre Verdiane (Verdi's Lands). It is here, in fact, that the artistic and musical life of famous musician Giuseppe Verdi developed and it is in his honour that the Verdi Festival is celebrated every year, an unmissable event for lovers of opera music. In addition to this, in the same area there is the "Bassa" (lowlands) immortalized by Giovanni Guareschi in his novels, where the stories of Don Camillo and his rival, mayor Peppone, are told, two unique and unforgettable characters, closely linked with the Emilia area.
Masone labyrinth
The bamboo labyrinth, desired and built by Franco Maria Ricci, is the largest in the world: it has 200,000 bamboo plants belonging to about twenty different species, between 30 centimetres and 15 metres high, but it also houses a museum with a private collection, a library, spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions and an archive. Finally, there are also a Bistrò, Il Caffè and a Gastronoma Parmigiana, managed by starred chef Massimo Spigaroli.
Magnani Rocca Foundation
The Villa dei Capolavori of Mamiano, a part of the municipality of Traversetolo in the province of Parma, wants to promote the dissemination of culture and art to encourage the growth of society. It houses the prestigious collection of Luigi Magnani, which includes works by Gentile da Fabriano, Filippo Lippi, Carpaccio, Dürer, Tiziano, Rubens, Monet, Renoir, Cézanne as well as De Chirico and sculptures by Canova and Bartolini.
MUMAB, the Ancient Sea Museum
Recently inaugurated, the MUMAB museum is located inside the Millepioppi farm, not far from I Casali and the Borgo di Tabiano, inside the Stirone and Piacenziano Park. The brand new centre brings together the contents of the "Mare Antico" (Ancient Sea) museum and the "Museo Naturalistico del Parco dello Stirone" (Naturalistic Museum of the Stirone Park). New and captivating graphics, as well as unique and technologically advanced experiences make it an essential stop for tourists who want to explore the local history and landscape.
Cremona, between Stradivari and the Po
Located on the left bank of the Po river, Cremona is one of the most renowned art cities in northern Italy. The historic centre retains all the charm of the medieval era, thanks to the many palaces and very ancient churches. A visit to the Violin Museum is not to be missed, where precious pieces that belonged to master Antonio Stradivari, a native of Cremona, are on display. For those wishing to enjoy a view from above over the whole surrounding plain, absolutely not to be missed is the Torrazzo, the bell tower of the Cathedral on which it is possible to climb on foot or thanks to a more comfortable lift.
Sabbioneta, the ideal city in the Po Valley
Sabbioneta was built at the request of the Duke Vespasiano Gonzaga, lord of Mantua, with the aim of realising the Renaissance concept of the Ideal City, in which art, architecture and urban planning represent the maximum expression of classicism. Since 2008, Sabbioneta has been included among the Unesco sites, which declared it "of exceptional universal value", and therefore a World Heritage Site. In addition to the village, the surrounding walls, which have remained almost unchanged from the sixteenth century to today, are worth a visit.