Appennino Reggiano and Food Valley: trekking and delicacies

Arrival at the hotel in Carpineti. Walk in the city with aperitif in the Piazza del Borgo and dinner at the hotel.

In 20 minutes you will reach by car the famous Pietra di Bismantova, a beautiful and distinctive mountain in the Reggio Emilia Apennines. Here you will follow a circular route and be captivated by a unique panorama. After visiting the Benedictine Hermitage, you will return to the hotel and get ready to.... flour your hands! In the hotel kitchen, traditional Emilian recipes have been handed down from past generations and are still prepared with the same methods and care as in the past. So are you ready to learn how to prepare real tortelli? At the end of the course, a tasting is a must. Route info: 9 km,  difference in altitude: +350 m

You set off from Carpineti towards the summit of Monte Antoniano where Matilda di Canossa's great-grandfather built the famous castle. Continue through chestnut woods to the Pieve di San Vitale, an enchanting corner of the Reggio Apennines. Here at an inn in the village you can taste typical products of the Emilian hills. The return to the hotel will be on a scenic path with a view of the castle: you will feel as if you were walking in the Middle Ages! In the afternoon you will discover the magic of cheese production and the art of the cheesemakers who transform milk into Parmigiano Reggiano, the most famous cheese in the world. You will visit a cheese factory, to witness all the stages of milk processing, from cooking to the placing of the curds in the cheese vat, to salting. Route info: 12 km,  difference in altitude: +500 m

You will arrive in Valestra, a small village 10 minutes from the hotel: your goal is to climb up to the almost 1,000 metres of Monte Valestra. At the summit of the mountain are two small sanctuaries and a small cave, known as the Devil's Cave. Would you like to know its legend? At the end of the trek, you can be pampered by Sara of Azienda Agricola Varo, a young woman who is the guardian of all local traditions, both agricultural and culinary. Having lunch with her is a true experience. She is the guardian of unique recipes made of fruit preserves with ancient fruits and vegetables cooked in a thousand ways. After lunch you can return to the hotel for some relax: why not take advantage of the Matilde Wellness? Route info: 6 km, difference in altitude: +350 m

In about half an hour by car you will reach the famous Canossa. In this place, history and legend mingle, with the Grand Countess Matilda of Canossa as the protagonist. From here the trek starts to visit the well-preserved village of Bergogno but above all to arrive in the village of Votigno. Back in Canossa, you can taste the delicious Matilde beer brewed in Belgium by Trappist monks, discover the legend and understand the difference between erbazzone and scarpazzone. At the end of the tasting in the shadow of the famous Canossa Castle you will return to the hotel for dinner. Route info: 10 km, difference in altitude: +500 m

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. On the way back, just a few kilometres away, the Ducal City of Parma is worth a visit. See you next time!