Reggio Emilia, a town without barriers

In the historic center is Palazzo San Giorgio, a place that houses the Panizzi Library, a cultural space open to all, ideal for starting the day by discovering the city's history and cultural activities.

Useful info

• Family services with changing table
• Facilitated accessibility on internal routes

The Tricolor Museum tells the story of the Italian flag and the civic importance of Reggio Emilia in the formation of national identity, a symbolic place not to be missed in the city center.

Interesting stop to learn more about the history of the Italian flag and local political history

Useful Info

• Single-floor or elevator access in civic museums (visit official portals for information on specific accessibility tools).
• Audio guides available

Piazza San Prospero is a cozy and characteristic corner of Reggio Emilia's historic center. Dominated by the elegant Baroque façade of the Basilica dedicated to the city's patron saint, the square represents a place where history, art and tradition intertwine in a lively and accessible setting.

Must-sees

• Basilica of San Prospero: the religious and artistic heart of the city with its Baroque façade and interiors featuring works of historical and artistic significance.
• The six red Verona marble lions placed along the churchyard, symbols of the square and the city.

Curiosity

The square is also known as "Piazza dei Leoni": lions have always been part of the city's tradition and are part of a "historical" game for children, who for generations have loved to climb on them under the supervision of their parents.

Event

November 24, Feast of St. Prospero: religious celebrations, civic events and cultural activities in the square.

The square is perfect for a short walk and easily connects to Piazza Prampolini and Via Emilia, making a complete itinerary through the historic center possible.

Crossing the historic Via Emilia, the gaze opens onto a wide and lively space, where the Municipal Theater elegantly overlooks the city. Directly opposite, in a building of ancient charm, is the Palazzo dei Musei, the heart of Reggio Emilia's Civic Museums, custodian of collections that tell of the nature, history, art and cultural identity of the territory.

Must-sees

• "Lazzaro Spallanzani" Collection: of the wonders of nature collected by the scientist and explorer, with exhibits of fauna, minerals and 18th-century curiosities.
• Natural history and archaeological collections spanning millennia of civilization, from prehistoric to contemporary times, told through objects, artifacts and thematic sections of the museum.
• Contemporary layout: new rooms on the second floor, redesigned by architect Italo Rota, offer a fascinating narrative of the area and its excellences through the centuries, including reportage and works related to the European Photography project.

To know

The fossil whale found in the Reggio Emilia hills is a unique find that tells of an amazing geological past.

Useful info

• Admission to the Palazzo dei Musei is free, but some guided tours or special activities may require reservations or a fee.
• The museum has recently benefited from interventions aimed at eliminating physical, sensory and cognitive barriers, with the introduction of tactile maps, pod-tactile paths and new furnishings that make the collections more usable and comfortable for all visitors, including children and those with special needs.
• The Civic Museums of Reggio Emilia often offer temporary exhibitions, workshops and cultural initiatives that enrich the museum experience: from contemporary art projects to thematic exhibitions related to the local area and culture.

Continuing into the historic center, we reach one of Reggio Emilia's most significant places of worship and art: the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Ghiara.

Built following an event believed to be miraculous in 1596, this church is now a pilgrimage and cultural destination, known for its artistic heritage and wealth of works by 17th-century Emilian artists.

Must-sees

• Altarpieces, frescoes, and works by leading 17th-century Emilian painters, including Ludovico Carracci, Guercino, Guercino, Lionello Spada, Alessandro Tiarini, Carlo Bononi, and Luca Ferrari, brought together here in the decorative design of the church.
• Museum of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Ghiara: located in the cloister on the first floor, it preserves the "Treasure of the Ghiara" with sacred silverware, votive offerings and evidence of local confraternities.

Curiosity

The name Ghiara comes from the term for the ancient gravelly course of the Crostolo stream on which the area stood before the sanctuary was built.

Useful info

• Individual visits to the Basilica are free of charge and include free access to the interior in observance of liturgical services, and it is possible to request tourist lighting of the church on offer.
• By downloading the Basilica's official app, it is possible to explore the historical and artistic aspects independently by framing QR codes around the interior pillars.

Continuing to discover the wonders of the historic center, we arrive at the Palazzo Magnani Foundation, an exhibition venue dedicated to contemporary visual arts and culture.

Palazzo Magnani is a historic building restored with great attention to public enjoyment, offering an enriching and accessible cultural experience, helping to integrate art and community, including:

• Art exhibitions and exhibition projects of modern and contemporary art, with a cultural calendar full of interdisciplinary proposals that enhance creativity, reflection and discussion.
• Educational activities and workshops to engage the public in an active and participatory way, fostering a deep understanding of works and artistic languages.

Must-sees

The two-faced Janus sculpted by Prospero Sogari: on the facade you can see the symbolic sculpture of Janus, a traditional figure symbolizing passages and protection, connection between historical past and urban identity.

To know

The building's history is closely linked to the Magnani family and the city's cultural evolution: Luigi Magnani, art collector and man of culture, lived and worked here, and today the foundation continues its commitment to the promotion of art and knowledge. The vocation of Palazzo Magnani is reflected in the idea that art is not only to be observed, but also to be discussed and lived as a personal and social experience.

Useful info

• The palace is widely accessible, thanks to entrances designed for people with reduced mobility; specific routes and projects are designed to include people with fragility, with facilitated approaches, tactile paths for the blind and visually impaired, Alternative Augmentative Communication solutions, and visits with LIS interpreters by appointment.
• The bookshop accessible from the outside allows visitors to purchase catalogs, books and art objects even without a ticket.

After a brief stop in Piazza Fontanesi, a small square with a French flavor enlivened by bars and restaurants where you can stop for a break, we head to the Cloisters of San Pietro, one of Reggio Emilia's most striking monumental complexes.

The result of a major architectural and regenerative recovery, the cloisters now represent a hub of culture, innovation and sociality in the city's historic center.

Must-sees

• The Renaissance and Mannerist structure of the former Benedictine monastery, articulated around two cloisters with distinct historical and architectural characters: the Small Cloister and the Large Cloister.
• Stroll through the courtyards, admiring the arches, arcades and open space that fosters an atmosphere of peace and contemplation.
• The Urban Open Laboratory, a space dedicated to social innovation, digital culture and inclusive experimentation, home to coworking activities, creative projects and cultural initiatives, often in synergy with the local area.
• Temporary exhibitions, art shows and cultural events regularly enliven the spaces, making the cloisters a dynamic and contemporary place.

Curiosity

The Cloisters of St. Peter's were originally part of a Benedictine monastery built in the early decades of the 16th century and were used over the centuries for different purposes until they became inaccessible, before the recovery and redevelopment that transformed them into an active cultural hub on the city and international scene.

Useful info

• Inside there are also facilities such as a cafeteria/restaurant, accessible from street level and immersed in the tranquility of the courtyard.
• The complex and the Open Workshop are accessible to people with disabilities and mobility difficulties
• Access to the cloisters is also possible with strollers and wheelchairs, subject to occasional limitations due to the nature of the works or exhibitions present.
• Equipped toilets for people with disabilities available inside the complex or at reception points.

Past the medieval structure of the city hexagon, we move to an area that tells another story of Reggio Emilia: La Polveriera, a former military space and public depot transformed into a multipurpose cultural and social hub.

This place represents a significant example of urban regeneration, where ethics, innovation and community coexist under one roof, making the visit a different but extremely meaningful experience.

To do

• Stroll through the large open spaces at the center of the facility, designed as an urban plaza and meeting place.
• Discover the spaces of sociality, culture and creativity that develop within it: the Powder House is an active laboratory of social culture where beauty is transmitted and produced, involving the community and enhancing relationships.
• Participate in the cultural and artistic initiatives hosted periodically, such as installations, workshops and festivals; events in the square are often dedicated to dialogue, creativity and community participation.

To know

• The Polveriera was born in the 1940s as a military space and depot, but beginning in the 1980s it became public property and, in recent years, has been transformed into a place of participation open to citizenship and social activities. The concept that animates the entire facility reflects the city's vision of the "Right to Beauty," according to which every place should be beautiful and usable by everyone.
• The plaza and the indoor bar-restaurant is managed by social realities of the third sector in the area

Useful info

• Designed as a space usable by all, the paths and common areas are easily navigable even with wheelchairs or aids.
• The restrooms and rest areas, including mirrors, surfaces and access, are also designed to be used by anyone, regardless of motor or sensory abilities.
• Due to its location slightly outside the historic center, it can be easily reached in a few minutes on foot or by public transportation; there is a large "Ex-Polveriera" interchange parking lot nearby with frequent connections to the center.

The last leg of the itinerary leads toward the northern part of the city, to the area that once housed the historic Locatelli dairy company and its Parmigiano Reggiano warehouses.

Here today stands the Loris Malaguzzi International Center, a cultural and technological heart that celebrates the educational legacy of one of Italy's most influential pedagogues, and opens onto a transforming urban context: Reggiane Parco Innovazione, a symbolic place of industrial regeneration and research.

Must-sees

• Ateliers and exhibitions: spaces open to the public where the "hundred languages of children" are experienced, with ateliers of light, materials, paper and technologies designed to stimulate creativity, exploration and learning.
• Reggiane Innovation Park: walking in the surrounding area, one can sense the transformation of the former Officine Meccaniche Reggiane area into a hub of services, research, business and culture, with redeveloped buildings that now house universities, research centers and start-ups.

To know

• The Loris Malaguzzi International Center was founded in 2006 in the former Locatelli buildings as a meeting place for educators, families, students and professionals interested in education and learning processes.
• The Reggio Emilia Approach®, an internationally recognized methodology for early childhood education, is the global educational philosophy that focuses on children's creativity, active participation and multiple modes of expression, promoted by the Reggio Children's office.

Useful info

Exhibition areas, ateliers, bookshops and food services are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility via barrier-free routes.