Food and Drink: Known as the 'Food Kitchen' of the North, Emilia-Romagna is without doubt the region where Italy's best food is produced. The local specialities, famous throughout the world, include Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, Lasagne, Balsamic Vinegar and Tortellini stuffed with meat, vegetables and herbs.
Lambrusco is the most renowned wine produced from the local vineyards. It is common in the autumn to pick wild Porcini mushrooms, and blueberries found in the foothills of the mountains and there are many outlets for locally grown natural produce.
The area has a multitude of amazing restaurants and trattorias where the warmest of welcomes await the diner. For good food try the restaurants in Sologno, Ligonchio and Villa MInozzo. Better still, why not try a different restaurant each evening? Take a visit to Casina, 27km outside Reggio on the N63 to La Spezia, which holds a popular Festa del Parmigiana in August, when the vats of cheese mixture are stirred with enormous wooden paddles.
Local Places of Interest: Toano can be easily accessed via Villa Minozzo and lies on the ridge separating the Dolo and Secchia valley. The church of Queen Matilde’s castle, dedicated to Santa Maria, is one of the finest religious buildings of the whole Apennine territory.
Villa Minozzo, 20 min from Primaore has two good supermarkets boasting the cheapest wine in the area as well as banks, post office, cafe bars, excellent restaurants and a popular Thursday Market. Shops here are closed Wednesday afternoons. Both Toano and Villa Minozzo have open-air swimming pools and there is an aqua park at Reggio near the A1 junction. The area is noted for its beautiful scenery, Apennine woods with fields of bluebells and mushrooms, blackberries and walnuts, while the snow capped peaks of Mount Cusna and Mount Prampa offer tranquillity and natural beauty that is truly breathtaking.
For something different, why not visit the cheese factory in Minozzo? The whole area is just waiting to be discovered!
Main Towns and Cities: Castelnuovo nel Monti is the major town in the Reggiano Apennines and is 30min from Primaore. The jewel in its crown is the magnificent Bismantova plateau which captures the tranquil beauty of the Apennine mountains.
Market day in Castelnuovo is Monday and the shops close Thursday afternoons. The town has a theatre which also provides a first class cinema, hospital, plus various shops and supermarkets.
Further afield, visit Modena, Bologna or Parma , or why not drive down to Pisa and Lucca or head for the beaches of La Spezia, Viareggio and the Cinquaterra? The world is your oyster with so much to do and to see.
Approximate distances/times from Primaore to main Cities:-
Florence – 171km, 3 hrs. Pisa – 122km, 2½ hrs, Venice – 273km, 3¾ hrs. Parma – 76.1km, 1½ hrs. Bologna – 127km, 2 hrs, Milan – 210km, 3 hrs. La Spezia – 93km, 2 hrs
Note: These are only rough guides depending on the driver, but the scenery on route will make any distance worthwhile.
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Ski:
Febbio:-Located in commune of Villa Minozzo. boasts highest slopes in the Apennines including 5km cross country skiing.
Civago:-Popular winter sport resort, modern facilities, excellent hotels. 3 cable lifts and 13km of ski runs
Cerreto Laghi:-Located round a glacial Apennine lake dating back to Ice Age. State of art ski lifts, modern ice rink.
5 chairlifts, 3 cable lifts, 20km ski runs.
Abetone:-70km of slopes and 25 lifts - Usually snow capped till end of April. Abbetone is the best equipped and most comfortable ski resort in the area.
Ospitaletto:-Small tranquil ski resort near Ligonchio, less than 10k from Tuscany. Hospitality of area is found in the small friendly restaurants & local trattorie. 3 cable lifts, 7km ski runs.
Sestola:-50km of slopes are constantly covered in snow.
Ideal off slope area for snowboarders, trails for cross country. Olympic ice rink nearby
