The hills of sweet flavours
Travelling time, amateur: 2 hours 10 minutes
A route of medium-low difficulty that winds through the hills of Salsomaggiore and Noceto, discovering the local food and wine along the way.
The tour focuses on food and wine, allowing for the tasting of typical local products: cured meats, DOC wines, and Parmigiano Reggiano DOP.
Starting from the spa town, (free parking in Viale del Lavoro is recommended), the route leads you up towards Tabiano. At the top of the hill or with a small diversion, you will be able to admire the castle and small medieval village.
Continue in the direction of Fidenza; after leaving Tabiano, following a slight descent, you will come to the Romanesque parish church dedicated to St Thomas Becket. Located in Cabriolo, it lies along the Via Francigena, the route that once led pilgrims from Western Europe to Rome.
Next, proceed in the direction of Noceto; passing Borghetto, the road will remain valley-like until the end of the route.
At Varano Marchesi, you will have passed the halfway point. Climbing the hills towards Case Mezzadri, the highest point of this excursion, you will continue on to San Vittore and Contignaco. Here you can admire the ancient Romanesque parish church of San Giovanni as well as the Castle of Contignaco, also known as the Aldighieri Fortress and home to a local winery.
CA vibrant feature of the area is its food and wine production: along the route there are numerous places where you can taste and buy typical local produce, including salami, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, DOC wines, and local products with the De.C.O. label (Denominazione Comunale di Origine, or municipal denomination of origin)
Elevation profile
Places
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Salsomaggiore Terme
Start 0,0 km
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Poggio Diana
1,2 km
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Tabiano Bagni
3,7 km
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Cabriolo
8,8 km
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Santa Margherita
12,2 km
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Borghetto
14,2 km
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Lago Tana
17,1 km
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Cella di Noceto
27,4 km
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Varano Marchesi
32,3 km
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Case Mezzadri
35,3 km
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San Vittore
40,8 km
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Piè di Via
44,4 km
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Salsomaggiore Terme
Arrival 47,8 km
Length: 48 km
Duration: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
Height difference: 636 m
Minimum height: 69 m
Maximum height: 368 m
Road surface: Asphalt
Highlights of the itinerary
Fidenza, Cabriolo – Parish church of St Thomas Becket
Following the Via Francigena, in Cabriolo, 3 km from Fidenza Cathedral, don’t miss the beautiful Pieve di Cabriolo dedicated to St Thomas Becket, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, who belonged to the religious Order of the Knights Templar.
Church of San Vittore
The church was originally called ‘Plebs Curticellis’, a name that, according to some sources, can be traced back to the name of the locality of San Vittore in medieval times, ‘Corticelle’. As some hypotheses claim, this relates to the church’s inclusion in one of the small courts into which the territory was then divided.
Romanesque parish church of San Giovanni in Contignaco
The Church of San Giovanni was built on the top of a hill in pre-Roman times. Inside can be found a collection of 14th and 15th-century frescoes and paintings by a unique local artist.
Contignaco Castle – Aldighieri Fortress
The castle of Contignaco, with its tower standing more than 30 m high, was built around the 11th century by Adalberto Pallavicino. Originally a fief of the Pallavicino family, in 1315 it was conquered by the Aldighieri family of Parma who sought to control some of the area’s salt pans.
Mountain bike trails
Discover the range of trails
Routes of different difficulty, length, and duration. Here there are also some real mountain bike trails ideal for regional competitions.
Road bike trails
Discover the range of trails
The area around Tabiano Terme offers cycling enthusiasts routes of varying difficulty, length, and duration, ideal for admiring the history, nature, landscapes, and culture of this place.