Stirone and Piacenziano Regional Park
A park rich in history and nature
The museum centre, Stirone and Piacenziano, was created within the protected natural area of Val Stirone and includes a rural building, which is destined to become a cultural centre, open to the community. It is managed in collaboration with the management body of the Parks of the Duchy, and has social and cultural aims.
The structure provides the most important access to the Stirone River Park, hosting the “Living River” Nature Museum.
Next door is the new “Mare Antico” palaeontological museum, which houses the important collection of fossils found since the 1960s by palaeontologist, Raffaele Quarantelli, together with numerous palaeontologists from the Salsa area, along the Stirone river.
The collections show the peculiarities of this strip of land, formed in geological eras far removed by sedimentation of marine origin, subsequent erosion processes and human activities that have contributed to compose the landscape heritage that we experience today.
The park currently unites the Parco Regionale Fluviale dello Stirone and the Riserva Naturale Geologica del Piacenziano. The stream marks the border between the provinces of Parma and Piacenza, along the municipalities of Fidenza, Salsomaggiore Terme, Alseno and Vernasca, and runs from the locality of La Villa, upstream to the bridge over the Via Emilia in Fidenza.
The natural landscape offers numerous points of interest, changing from open plains to wooded areas and hills marked by gullies. The route shows all the complexity of the evolution of this geographical area, the development of spontaneous tree and flower species and the progress of agricultural techniques, as we cross wild areas, alternating with places that bear witness to the work of man.
In the “Millepioppi” structure, there are diversified reception areas to involve visitors in the discovery of biodiversity and to provide families with children with pleasant entertainment experiences.
There is a garden to attract butterflies and an orchard with precious plants. In a more protected area, there are aviaries housing some birds of prey, looked after by volunteers.
These animals are waiting for better times, and periodic release events can be witnessed.
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