Itinere proposes a two-day holiday package in the heart of the Terre Matildiche (Matildic lands).
First day:
-Approximately 3.00 p.m. arrival by private vehicle in the foothills of Reggio Emilia, in Scandiano, home of the Compagnia della Spergola and birthplace of Lazzaro Spallanzani.
Spergola is in fact an excellent Reggio Emilia vine, typical of the Scandiano-Ventoso-San Ruffino-Casalgrande area, of which Scandiano is the ideal place, its natural habitat, for growing. The town also enchants visitors thanks to the Rocca dei Boiardo. A monument of great historical and cultural value, the manor house was built by the noble Da Fogliano family and takes its name from the Boiardo family who inhabited it from 1423 for 137 years. Initially built as a place of defence, it was therefore equipped with walls, a moat with a drawbridge and watchtowers. Not only the Da Fogliano and Boiardo families lived here, but later, for some periods, also the Thiene, Bentivoglio and Este families.
-Guided visit to the Fortress, Casa Spallanzani and Clock Tower.
-4.30 pm at the end of the visit, transfer by own vehicle to local winery, producer of Spergola wine. The winery makes wine exclusively from grapes grown on the estate. Discover the history of this area and the wine sector that characterises it, savouring its special features and tasting its aromas.
-Guided tour of the wine cellar: visit to the production department with explanation of the production method, from vineyard management to vinification, visit to the ageing department, and finally wine tasting with some snacks. Spergola is a specific grape, from which a cru wine is obtained, from an indigenous vine grown almost exclusively in the Scandiano area.
-6.00 p.m. at the end of the visit to the winery, transfer by own vehicle to an agriturismo in the Reggio Emilia hills for dinner and overnight stay on site. A dinner of typical local dishes will be served in the farmhouse restaurant, accompanied by Spergola wine, the first historical references to which date back to Matilde di Canossa.
Second day:
-8.00 am breakfast at the agriturismo and check out - transfer by own vehicle to Canossa.
-9.00 a.m. meeting with the guide at Canossa Castle, in the heart of the Terre Matildiche. Arrival in the Reggio Emilia hills, where the Middle Ages have kept their interest alive. The castles that make up the heart of the ancient county of Matilda preserve the charm of the memory of when the theatre of European politics took place between the 11th and 12th centuries.
-Guided tour of the Castle of Canossa, made famous by the arrival of Emperor Henry IV, who after three days of penance obtained a pardon from the Pope and the revocation of his excommunication. To restore peace between the two, most probably, a chalice of wine. Which one? Obviously the one cultivated on the feudal lord's estate: Spergola.
-Following: guided tour of the Castle of Rossena, which constitutes one of the most evocative views of the entire Matilda area. The village of Rossena was home to a mighty castle, perhaps the most beautiful and best preserved in the entire Matildic area. It stands on a volcanic cliff with a distinctive reddish colour from which it overlooks a unique and unrepeatable landscape, embracing a large stretch of the plains and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine ridge.
-At the end of the visit, end of services.
The package is valid for weekends only: visit to the Rocca dei Boiardo only possible with a guide and only on Saturdays and Sundays by prior arrangement.
Price per person: from € 150.00 VAT INCLUDED (minimum 2 participants).
The price includes: guided tour of Rocca dei Boiardo, Torre dell'Orologio and Casa Natale Lazzaro Spallanzani in Scandiano, as per programme, including entrance ticket for two people; guided tour of a wine cellar with wine tasting for two people; dinner for two people at Agriturismo Restaurant with typical menu - two courses - drinks included (water and 1 bottle of wine for two people); overnight stay in double room for 1 night at Agriturismo with breakfast on day 2; guided tour of Castello di Canossa and Castello di Rossena as per programme, including entrance ticket, for two people.
The price does not include: transfer; tourist tax currently not in force in Reggio Emilia and its province; entrance fees to monuments/churches not specified; medical/luggage insurance; anything not specifically mentioned under "price includes".
The rate may be subject to change at the time of booking, once the availability of rooms and services has been verified.
For information and booking, visit the dedicated page.
