The Area

The Piacenza hills

Podere Montevalle is nestled in the heart of the Piacenza hills, where Emilia meets Lombardy. Here the landscape shifts gently: from cultivated plains the land rises toward the first Apennine foothills, through rows of vines, wheat fields and oak woods. It is a borderland where dialects, recipes and traditions of two regions blend together.

Villages and history

Medieval villages tell centuries of history: Castell'Arquato with its Visconti fortress overlooking the Val d'Arda, Vigoleno enclosed within its perfectly preserved walls, Grazzano Visconti with its neo-Gothic charm. Every town has its own piazza, its church, its traditions. Bobbio, with its humpback bridge over the Trebbia, has been a crossroads for pilgrims and travellers since the Middle Ages. Everywhere you feel a genuine hospitality, made of smiles and good food.

Food and wine

Food and wine are the soul of this land. The Piacenza PDO cured meats — coppa, pancetta and salame — are celebrated worldwide. The Colli Piacentini wines, from Ortrugo to Gutturnio, accompany every meal with character. Crispy torta fritta, pisarei e fasö, anolini in brodo: every season brings its flavours, every restaurant its own take on tradition.

Nature and activities

Nature offers trails, cycle paths and breath-taking views. The Trebbia, Nure and Arda valleys reveal unique vistas in every season: spring blossoms, cool summers along the streams, autumn foliage among the vineyards and hushed winter silences wrapped in mist. It is the perfect place for anyone seeking an authentic break, far from the rush.