The panoramic stones of the Apennines

The panoramic stones of the Apennines are particularly impressive rock formations that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys. They represent ideal vantage points for enjoying the landscape and immersing oneself in the tranquillity of nature. Here we present four of them.

Bismantova Stone (Reggio Emilia)

Located in the municipality of Castelnovo ne’ Monti, just over 40 kilometres from our agriturismo, the Bismantova Stone is an imposing massif with vertical walls that stands isolated in the Apennine mountains. Dating back to the ancient Miocene, over the centuries it has amazed travellers and has even been celebrated by poets. First and foremost Dante Alighieri, who was so struck by it that he quoted it in verses 26 and 27 of the 4th Canto of Purgatory. Around the stone also hover many legends and popular beliefs linked to the presence of witchcraft and demonic presences.

There are countless paths leading to the top of the cliff. The paths, most of which are marked by the CAI (Italian Alpine Club), begin in correspondence with the towns. One of these is the Spallanzani Path, dedicated to the famous naturalist from Reggio Emilia who lived in the 18th century, which starts in Scandiano. There are also a large number of climbing routes and two vie ferrate. From the summit plateau it is possible to admire some of the most important peaks of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines (such as Mounts Cimone, Ventasso, Cusna and Alpe di Succiso), while at the foot of the cliff rises a suggestive hermitage.

Groppo del Vescovo (Parma)

Located on the border between Emilia and Tuscany, between Berceto (PR) and Pontremoli (MS), Groppo del Vescovo is one of the most beautiful places in Lunigiana. It looks like ‘a white petrified wave’ emerging from the soft green landscape of the meadows and pastures of the High Tuscan-Emilian Apennine ridge area. In addition to being a geological site of particular scenic importance for the spectacular views that can be observed, it is the outcrop locality of the eponymous geological formation of the Groppo del Vescovo limestones.

The best known route to Groppo del Vescovo, which can be taken on foot or by mountain bike, starts from the Cirone Pass and lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Near Groppo del Vescovo, the small and charming village of Sesta Inferiore, a hamlet of the municipality of Corniglio (province of Parma) is worth a diversion. Nestled between the ridge tops and the Parma stream, it is also known as the painted village. In the 1960s and 1970s, Walter Madoi, one of Parma’s most significant post-war artists, painted a series of splendid frescoes on the exterior walls of the buildings, many of which can still be admired.

Parcellara Stone e Perduca Stone (Piacenza)

In the Trebbia Valley, one of the four valleys of the Colli Piacentini, defined by the American writer Ernest Hemingway as ‘the most beautiful valley in the world’, are the Parcellara Stone and Perduca Stone, two ophiolite outcrops that represent the northernmost and closest to the plain of the entire Apennines. Ruggedly beautiful, they are linked by a path on the southern slope.

Located on the border between the municipalities of Bobbio and Travo, Parcellara Stone is the main rocky peak in the province of Piacenza. It juts out abruptly from the hill, standing out for its morphology and imposingness. The route to the summit, from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley, starts from the Oratorio della Madonna di Caravaggio, an important religious building located in the municipality of Bobbio.

A short distance from Parcellara Stone is Perduca Stone, similar in conformation. It can be recognised by its ancient hermit church, dedicated to St Anne, and the peculiar triton pools carved into the rock, known as the Beds of Saints, around which numerous legends revolve. Again, the rocky mass dominates the gentle, undulating cultivated landscape, but reaching the summit is even easier thanks to the steps carved into the cliff.