As the valley rises gently from the plain along the Nure stream, which gives it its name, the landscape gradually changes. The hills dotted with vines give way to high peaks interrupted by rocky spurs, unique for the richness of flora and fauna. If you are looking for relaxation and inner peace, excursions to the lakes of glacial origin are a real therapy, splendid in spring with the blooms of water lilies. But also for those who love to try their hand at outdoor experiences, there is no shortage of opportunities thanks to the first and largest outdoor sports area (Alta Val Nure – Trail Valley). On foot, by bike or on horseback the routes are suitable for everyone and well signposted. To enrich the offer there are also numerous sports centers and facilities suitable to meet every expectation in terms of free time.
But Val Nure is also culture, where every tower and every bell tower recall the ancient stone processing, where the landscape is dotted with castles, fortresses and towers, today private homes or even open to the public. You can thus relive the magic of a village out of time: it is the tale of Grazzano Visconti, rebuilt in neo-Gothic style at the beginning of the twentieth century, with narrow streets surrounded by greenery, the typical houses with spiers and mullioned windows, the artisan shops known for the processing of wrought iron, ceramics and wood, and with its historic castle and the adjoining park. Or you can let yourself be enchanted by the Castle of Gropparello, a manor towering over a high cliff, which houses the first emotional park in Italy, the Parco delle Fiabe.
This is the territory that since the Middle Ages was the junction of the trade routes that led from the Po Valley to the ports of Liguria. And that gave birth to the Colombo family, so much so that in Pradello, the tower house of the same name is now home to a museum dedicated to the great navigator.
The food and wine break is not to be missed in Val Nure between the genuineness of its products with Municipal Denomination of Origin (De.Co.), the flavors of the mountains and the great tradition, with the excellence of the 3 DOP Piacentini Salami, Coppa, Pancetta and Salame, which perfectly matches the quality of the DOC Colli Piacentini wines.
