The Emilian Apennine area enjoys many isolated places where you can be enveloped by the starry sky, places far from the lights and flashes of the city where you can let yourself go and explore the celestial vault.

In the Emilian Apennines there are several astronomical observatories, to contemplate the stars and understand their motion. They are scientific places, where everyone can access to live the experience of using a telescope and listening to stories about the latest discoveries in the cosmos.

In the province of Parma we find two observatories. Dedicated to the second closest star to the sun, the Barnard Observatory welcomes visitors to the hills of Neviano degli Arduini. Inside it is possible to participate in evening observations of the celestial vault, or point the telescope at the sun to grasp all its secrets. Not far away we also find the Bellatrix Observatory, which can be visited in the municipality of Collecchio.

Also in the nearby province of Reggio Emilia we find in the Municipality of Ventasso the observatory of Cervarezza Terme at the Fonti di S. Lucia, where events are held especially in the summer months by the Gruppo Astrofili dell’Appennino reggiano. In the neighboring municipality of Villa Minozzo there is the astronomical observatory “Pierino Zambonini” at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level. To reach it, you need to go to the foot of Mount Cusna, in the locality of Febbio. Both structures deal with teaching and research, working with schools and groups, but also organize evenings of observation and photography of celestial objects in summer. Then there is the Canossa Observatory, founded in 2016 in the hills of the Val d’Enza, which also organizes events and it is possible to book stargazing evenings.

In addition to amateur astronomers of all ages and students, the observatories also attract the many hikers who cross the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park or who walk the numerous CAI trails in the area.

Spending time contemplating a wonderful starry sky and learning about the moon, planets, nebulae and galaxies in all their splendor are activities that you must put at the top of your list, especially during the summer.