The Piacenza Apennines keep stories of resistance and freedom and by following this itinerary you will discover the history of two valleys.
The Nure Valley, rich in woods and ancient lakes, and the Val d'Arda rich in centuries-old oak and chestnut forests.
During the Second World War, these areas favoured the organisation and were a refuge for the partisans of the 60th Garibaldi Brigade (known as Stella Rossa) who fought the Nazi-Fascist forces from here.
This two-day itinerary proposes two treks immersed in nature:
The experience ends with a visit to the Piacenza Resistance Museum, a place that collects testimonies and memorabilia from those years.
The routes are suitable for experienced, trained walkers and trekking enthusiasts, with gradients of up to 700 m and length between 9 and 11 km.
The weekend begins in the village of Bettola, 35 km from Piacenza, from which we continue towards Calenzano and Piccoli di Calenzano, a small village of few typical stone houses . Here we park the car and set off on our trek from the church.
You walk along the Sentiero della stella rossa (Red Star Trail), a 9.5-kilometre circular route with a 700-metre difference in altitude, marked with the red and white star that characterises the Sentieri della libertà (paths of Liberty) in Piacenza.
What to see
Curiosities
On a clear day, Piacenza, the Po River and the Lombard shore can be seen from the summit.
Tips
Take your packed lunch with you and enjoy a rest on the summit before descending.
Contemplating this panorama, it is easy to imagine how this strategic position was useful to the 60th Garibaldi Brigade (Red Star) in keeping their advances under control and planning actions against the enemy.
After a well-deserved break, the trail continues through oak, locust trees and beech forests, descending along the right-hand ridge of Mount Tito until it returns to Calenzano to go back to the car.
Don't forget to visit the website or take the printed guide with you, to linger along the route and read the history of the Brigade that suffered heavy losses during the raids that hit the Nure Valley.
What to see
What to tast
At the end of the excursion, it is time to treat yourself to a snack at one of the local restaurants or trattorias, where you can taste typical dishes such as: bortellina bettolese accompanied by P.D.O. cured meats or De. Co. potato pie typical of the Nure valley.
At the end of the first day it is time to move on for dinner and overnight stay in Val d'Arda, in the area of Morfasso which is closer to the starting point of the second trek.
The road to Morfasso is full of hairpin bends and offers stunning views of the landscape.
For dinner, do not miss the opportunity to try at least one typical local dish such as:
The following morning, we drive towards the small village of Sperongia di Morfasso, along the SP21 road. Here a detour allows us to reach Settesorelle, more precisely the hamlet of Dadomo, a village of stone houses typical of the mountain area.
Dadomo is the starting point of the second trek: ‘Sentiero dello Slavo (Partisan Path of John the Slav)’, 11 km in length and 650 m in altitude difference.
Again, as this is a loop trail, at the end of the route you return to the starting point.
What to see
Curiosities
John Grkavaz, known as ‘Giovanni lo Slavo(John the Slav)’, was a charismatic young Yugoslav soldier who, after the Nazi invasion, rallied partisans of different origins and challenged the fascist militia, becoming a symbol of unity and courage.
Tips
Experienced hikers can start directly from the Sperongia Resistance Museum, extending the route by a few kilometres.
Halfway along the route, a short diversion leads to the Grotta dell'Eccidio, a place of memory where the Nazi-Fascists slaughtered two 17-year-old partisans during the January 1945 round-up.
Tips
Stop for a moment of recollection in front of the marble memorial plaque.
After visiting the Grotta dell'Eccidio, the trail continues to Case Nuove, a small mountain hamlet that played a key role during the Partisan Resistance. If necessary, it is possible to refill your water bottle here and stop for a short snack.
Here the partisans found shelter in isolated houses, using them as observation points over the valley.
What to see
Curiosities
The ‘Casa del Cucù’ was a meeting point for the partisans of the area, who met here to plan sabotage actions against the enemy.
Tips
Once you get back to your car in Dadomo, you can go in search of a good, invigorating meal, perhaps among the small mountain taverns that were once meeting places for the partisans, who here discussed their plans.
After the meal, the weekend can come to an end with a visit to the Museo della Resistenza Piacentina(Piacenza Resistance Museum), in Sperongia di Morfasso.
The museum, conceived as a mix of testimonies of the Piacenza partisan resistance, preserves videos, relics and original documents so that the history of those who fought in these mountains is not forgotten.
Leaving the museum, there will be no lack of desire to plan a new trek on the Sentieri della libertà (paths of liberty).
