ITINERE organized a press tour for two journalists to discover Emilia through the locations featured in films by renowned directors. From the engagement of expert tour guides to the careful selection of accommodations, restaurants, and tastings, we have unveiled hidden gems across the three provinces of Parma, Piacenza, and Reggio Emilia.”
An alternative Emilia reveals itself along an unexpected itinerary: art, cinema and the distinctive flavours of this region are all elements that blend harmoniously to tell its true identity.
The journey begins in Brescello, the village of Don Camillo and Peppone which, French director Julien Duvivier chose as the set for the films based on the stories of writer Giovannino Guareschi. It is here that the “Mondo Piccolo” comes to life – the small post-war rural world that the author envisioned for his characters.
The tour then continues to Gualtieri, the hometown of painter Antonio Ligabue, to whom the film “Volevo nascondermi” is dedicated. Here, the journalists discovered the town’s hidden gems.
The next stop was Guastalla, where director Bernardo Bertolucci filmed several scenes of his masterpiece “Novecento”. Parma, his birthplace, also served as the backdrop for some of his films, and the film locations are still an integral part of the city’s cultural heritage.
Just outside Parma city, in the countryside, Roncole Verdi, allows to discover the life of composer Giuseppe Verdi, who was born here.
The stay concludes in Bobbio, listed among the most beautiful villages in Italy. Marco Bellocchio chose it as the set for several of his films, and today it hosts the annual Bobbio Film Festival, underlining the deep bond between the village and the world of cinema.
Enriched by tastings at a dairy and a traditional vinegar factory, and by lunches in local restaurants, this itinerary reveals an Emilia full of surprising details, often absent from classic tours, and capable of sparking curiosity and interest both among cinema enthusiasts and among locals eager to rediscover a region that never stops revealing itself.
Thanks to Visit Emilia for entrusting us with this opportunity.
Learn more by reading the article by journalist Monica Guzzi for QN Itinerari: Da Peppone a Novecento: viaggio in Emilia sui set dei grandi film – QNItinerari
