The city of Reggio Emilia stands on the Via Emilia, within the hexagon of the ancient ring road (corresponding to the ancient city walls). Its neighbouring provinces are Parma to the west and Modena to the east. The parallel A1 motorway, running from Milan to Rome, is considered to be the fastest and most direct route to the region's main centres (Bologna is 30 minutes away and Milan just 1 hour and 30 minutes). The northbound side of highway 63 links the city to the province of Mantova. The southbound side takes you to the Appenine mountains (Passo del Cerreto) and beyond that to La Spezia. The city is linked by highway 467 to Sassuolo and the Appenines above Modena, and by highway 468 to Correggio and Carpi.
THE APPENNINO TOSCO-EMILIANO NATIONAL PARK
The land made available for this national park covers over half of the province of Reggio Emilia. In 1988, this area was part of the Gigante Regional Park, whose facilities continued to carry out planning, surveillance and promotion activities while waiting for the National Park to be fully operational. The Gigante Regional Park extends across all the Appenine area of Reggio Emilia and includes some of the highest summits in the northern Appenines: Mount Cusna, Mount Prado and the Succiso Alps reach heights of over 2000 metres. The park protects valuable and delicate mountain habitats that include a great variety of rare botanic species and many high altitude animals.
THE LANDS OF MATILDA OF TUSCANY
The history of these lands has become lost in the mists of time but it culminated in the Middle Ages with Matilda of Canossa or Matilda of Tuscany, as she is otherwise known. Many castles and churches bear witness to this period, of which there are many traces and pieces of evidence. Pilgrims and travellers have for a long time crossed the summits of the Appenines to reach the shrines and places of worship, thus superimposing Christian culture over the pagan culture that is still reflected in local traditions. Many archaeological finds from the Canossian period are kept in the Canossa National Museum. Also worth visiting is the Istituto Superiore di Studi Matildici, based at the Castle of Rossena, and the Votigno documentation centre, which also houses the Casa del Tibet.
VILLAGES OF THE PO
The well-known lowlands of Reggio Emilia provide many historic, culture and food and wine trails to follow.