Along the placid flow of the waters of the river Stirone, the Regional Park of Stirone and Piacenziano opens up to visitors.
A natural area that, starting from Fidenza, develops towards the Apennine hinterland for almost 15 km, incorporating nine areas of great paleontological interest located between Castell’Arquato, Lugagnano Val d’Arda, Vernasca, Gropparello and Carpaneto Piacentino.
It is a protected area of indescribable charm that offers not only pleasant landscapes but also important data for the reconstruction of the history of the territory.
The erosive processes on the banks of the river reveal fossil deposits of great value of the Tertiary and Quaternary era so as to make this area known to the international scientific world.
The entire area is crossed by important communication routes – such as the Via Emilia and the Via Francigena – which have produced a population made up of castles, churches and small villages, of which traces still remain today.
The Park shows a great variety of habitats that translates into a strong richness from the point of view of landscape and nature. It thus passes from gentle scenery in the plains to the harshness of the gully areas in contact with the first Apennine reliefs.
From the point of view of fauna, next to the typical animals of river areas (fish, amphibians, etc.), there is the presence of the bee-eater, a colorful migratory bird that builds its nest in the tunnels dug along the escarpments.
Despite being a small area, the Park offers many opportunities to live it to the fullest. On foot, by mountain bike or on horseback there are many ways available.
There are the Fossiliferous outcrops to be observed closely; The Apennines to be reached with Guided hikes, even challenging; areas equipped for relaxing picnic in the middle of nature or to devote oneself to the sport fishing or birdwatching and, finally, the harmony of the taste of typical local products to be enjoyed in one of the many restaurants in the area.
