Monchio and its Courts

the HEADQUARTER

Monchio, from the Latin “Mons” hence “Monc” in dialect, is located in the Cedra Valley at an altitude of 820 m.
The words “delle Corti” were added in 1935 and refer to the ancient Corti that were part of the fiefdom of the Bishop of Parma for nine centuries, until Napoleon abolished all fiefdoms by decree in 1805.

Home of the Town Hall, Monchio is certainly the most frequented place by locals and in fact has the highest population density of the entire municipality.

The passage of Duchess Maria Luigia took place in the capital, as attested by the marble slab in the Town Hall, which thanks the Duchess for her generosity to the municipality by donating money to restore the Ponte di Lugagnano, and the Loggia dei Leni dated 1500′ and located in the locality of Prato where the Duchess stayed several times.

Definitely worth a visit is the charming Chiesa di San Lorenzo e Michele which containing paintings dated 1600′ and the town’s main square, which is chosen as a favorite meeting place by locals and visitors alike.

the Hamlets

Aneta is a small village about 11 km from Monchio, the ideal place to contemplate a beautiful view after a long walk: if you stop here, in fact, you can admire Monte Acuto and the Alpe di Succiso, cooling off at an altitude of 1,000 m.

Also worth a visit are the typical village square that houses a historic monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the 1915/1918 war and the statuette of the Madonna on the fountain that has withstood the ravages of time since 1903, watching over its inhabitants and the visitors who turn their attention to her.

““Qui era tempo di fermarsi,[/fusion_imageframe] una terra per viverci, cavalli
e uomini, a lungo”
Da Fantasticando sulla migrazione dei maremmani
(La camera da letto, 1984-1988)

So enacts the sign on the outside wall of Casa Bertolucci.

Stopped in the time of Bertolucci’s verses, Casarola is located in the Val Bratica at about 1,000 m above sea level and it is known for being the setting and inspiration for the life of poet Attilio Bertolucci, as well as his residence.

Here, in fact, it is possible to visit his house that has become a Cultural Heritage Site of Emilia-Romagna and destination of many guided tours.

In addition to the poet’s residence, it is possible to visit the ancient Church which holds symbols and paintings of historical interest, The Cultural Center “Le Ciliegie” and “I Bivacchi” located at the end of the village, old chestnut dryers that have been renovated and made available to host those who want to experience this immersed in the nature of the woods that inspired Bertolucci.

Bernardo Bertolucci, Attilio’s son, always said that “Casarola is the origin of everything” and today in fact, it holds the Parco Letterario Bertolucci.

The village of Ceda is about 3 km from Monchio and is located at 806 m above sea level.
The village attests the millennial presence of humans: the ancient Church is the symbol of the village, inside which can be found two portals dated 1686 and 1792, two rustic stucco altarpieces from the 1700s and a more recent canvas in glory of San Rocco, to whom the people of Ceda also dedicated a feast day on Jan. 26 each year. Another ancient testimony comes from an apocalyptic inscription on the wall of a house near the Church that reads “Vos estate parati quia qua hora non putatis filius homini venite” (you stand ready because in the hour you do not think, the Son of Man will come).

If you feel like taking a dip into the past and breathing in some ancient history, in Ceda you can find scent of distant eras, nature and breath clean air!

 Cozzanello, called “Csanéll” in dialect, is a new entry in the municipality of Monchio; in fact, it became one of its hamlets only after 1805.
At 808 m above sea level, Cozzanello boasts a scenic view totally surrounded by greenery in summer and by the white of snow-capped peaks and meadows in winter. You can get to Cozzanello by coming from Ceda and continuing for about 1 km. Here there is a quaint little church consecrated by Bishop Carlo Nembrini in 1656 containing striking paintings and higher you can find a fountain from which very good spring water flows.

The hamlet of Monchio delle Corti Lugagnano or “Liguagnan” in dialect, is further divided into two: upper Lugagnano and lower Lugagnano.

In upper Lugagnano there is “La fontana dei Minatori” which has been very recently restored, while in lower Lugnano there is a Maestà with a fountain and basin beside that was once used for watering animals and cleaning cloths.

The Church of Lugagnano boasts an early mention in a historical document as early as 1230.

The emblem of Lugagnano, however, remains the “Ponte Farnesiano” which dates back to 1602 and crosses the Cedra stream.
Once was the only way to reach Tuscany and was therefore considered very important; today it is a testimony of the architecture of that time as well as a vantage point from which to admire the surrounding landscape.

Pianadetto is the hamlet of Monchio delle Corti known for the “Bachér Fountain,” which dispenses very pure and diuretic spring water. The fountain is located on the main road and is immediately recognizable as it is flanked by an ancient Maestà. Another important Maestà present in Pianadetto is the one surmounting the Leni family coat of arms placed above an ancient portal and dated 1621, which holds the record of being the oldest in Monchio.
Another valuable feature found in Pianadetto is the medieval workshop, where residents once went to stock up on salt and tobacco.

The sports field is a favorite gathering place for young and old as there is a well-equipped playground, a soccer field and many parties are held here, complete with refreshment service.

The Pianadetto Church holds ancient masterpieces such as the Annunciation fresco and the altarpiece depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary.

The route to Riana starting from Casarola is really quick: about 10 minutes walk and you arrive at a heavenly cool place located at 1020 m altitude.

The small waterfall that is present at the side of the village is as striking as the sight of the golden eagle that nests in this very area, precisely at “Gropp soran.”

Prominent among the ancient villages and period fountains is “La ca’ di sior” or the Corte Santi-Fontechiari, a residential nucleus dating back to 1630 with a very large manor house surrounded by other more modest dwellings that housed the school, the teacher’s house, sharecroppers, barn and stables.

Rigoso is located at an altitude of 1131 m and seems to be set like a precious stone between the Alpe di Succiso and the Monte Acuto, which can be seen in the background.

In the past Rigoso was the capital of the Corti, later replaced by Monchio.

The village square is frequented by the inhabitants whose favorite gathering place and by visitors who in every season choose Rigoso because they find peace and friendliness here.

In the main square you can find the charming little church, which survived in 1819 a devastating fire that destroyed most of the houses in the village but unfortunately did not withstand the 1920 earthquake and was therefore rebuilt a few years later, witness the memorial plaque commemorating the reconstruction that can be seen inside.
With the broken stone of the old church, the fountain in the square that is located right next to it was built.

South of the town you can find the “little fountain” with the very good spring water.

Rimagna, a small hamlet of Monchio delle Corti, is known as the town of “cantarìn, sonador e balérìn”, in fact, as early as the early nineteenth century the presence of piva players was counted. Instruments such as the accordion and clarinet were also favored, and of course folk songs and dances took center stage in the farmyards, such as the “bala-cant” and the “bal ed l’ahi,” two very hilarious types of dancing. Today it is possible to breathe in this festive air again in the “Fèsta en-t-l’ara” held in mid-August each year, in which the villagers wear typical clothes and decorate the entire village, offering a spectacle that evokes past eras and distant flavors thanks to the cuisine that the men and women of the village set up in the center of the small hamlet and the dishes they prepare according to ancient recipes that can be enjoyed all together in the farmyards.

Situated at an altitude of 1000 m, Rimagna is home to the Santuario Diocesano della Madonna del Sasso, which recalls the ancient legend of the apparition of the Madonna from which the construction of the Oratory by all the inhabitants who had seen the image of the Madonna carved on the large boulder then began.

You can also find in Rimagna the parish church located in the center of the village, the main fountain, a characteristic Maestà, and the hydroelectric power plant not far from the village center.

While in 1955 the village had more than 300 inhabitants today the resident population does not even reach 30, Rimagna is therefore the most sought-after place for visitors to find peace and tranquility.

“Son poche case, predilette ai numi
Tutori della vergine natura,
Appollaiate sulla bella altura
Villaggio umile che nomasi Trefiumi.”

G. Breda

If you want to visit a place where time seems to stand still, about 4 km from Monchio delle Corti and at an altitude of 938 m you can find the village of Trefiumi!

Trefiumi is a quaint and cozy mountain village: the villagers are very attentive to the care of the surrounding environment and welcome visitors by making them find flowered streets and squares in summer, while in winter they organize for the Christmas season the “Christmas Village” , decorating the farmyards of the village and making the atmosphere just as magical as it was “once upon a time”; the streets are filled with songs and music, and the snow that rests gently on the houses and decorations allows you to breathe in the true Christmas spirit!

The village is very attached to traditions, young and old alike gather every year with the organizing committee called Terfumna (Trefiumi in dialect) and celebrate with a big feast of San Lorenzo on August 10 each year, right on the night of the stars.

A church and fountain, the latter located in the Main Square, was also dedicated to San Lorenzo, the patron saint of the village.

As in most of the villages in our valleys, there is a Maestà in Trefiumi, the “Maestà delle strade: Santa Liberata,” which can be encountered on the side of the road leading to Lago Ballano.

On the left bank of the Cedra stream rises what has been called “The Switzerland of Parma.” Valditacca, at 1011 m above sea level, is a characteristic mountain village, also a hamlet of Monchio delle Corti, full of cobblestone streets, small trails and sandstone houses, some of which possess ancient arches that allow passage from one small street to another, leaving glimpses during their crossing of the enchanting peaks that surround the village.

The Church of San Rocco is located in the center of the village along with the point designated for refreshments and a pretty little fountain from which the purest Cedra water flows.

If you want to stay in a lovely place enveloped in quiet and serenity, you will find many facilities in Valditacca equipped for your well-being and relaxation.

On the slopes of Monte Faggeto rises Vecciatica with its 927 m altitude and its 4 km distance from Monchio delle Corti.

Emblematic is “La maestà ed San Violin” called in this way because above it is a depiction of a young man playing the violin who is actually San Genesio. In 1564 the oratory of Santa Maria della Neve was founded, which was later destroyed by a landslide that swept it away along with much of the town. The name Santa Maria della Neve was given today to the small church that stands on the ridge between Vecciatica and Vairo, where a large folk festival is held annually.

The village is made up of isolated cottages and very few inhabitants in the winter time.The vegetation is the dominant feature, and quietness surrounds Vecciatica with an aura of calm and silence where everything seems to be in balance and follow nature’s timing.