Discover Campegine

Campegine offers several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: Roman water engineering, the history of medieval courts and the Fontanili di Corte Valle Re nature reserve. If you are looking for hotels in Campegine, you can first consider whether cultural history, nature watching or a combination of both will shape your stay.

Roman Aqueduct and Historic Sites

The Roman aqueduct offers a glimpse into the history of water supply. It ran for over 15 km, carrying drinking water from the springs of Gruma, west of the Campegine area, to the important Roman military camp of Brixellum on the right bank of the Po. The structure dates from the 1st century AD; a short section was uncovered in the Campi Rossi area.

Corte del Gualtirolo offers a different perspective on the area's early settlement. Documents from the 12th and 13th centuries refer to it as “Castrum Gualterii”, and it is considered the first organised and strategically located settlement in the area's early history. The former fortified site included a castle with embankments, moats and drawbridges, as well as a church dedicated to Santa Maria della Neve. The Corte is also linked to the history of Grana cheese: it was one of the places where it originated.

The architectural complex of Corte Valle Re was built on the ruins of the medieval Montanara Castle, beside natural springs. In 1992, the Emilia-Romagna region declared the area a nature reserve. Corte Valle Re was also the centre of a settlement with farmhouses, a mill and a cheese dairy. Together with Gualtirolo, it presents different facets of local history: one was an earlier settlement with rural features, the other a fortified site of strategic importance.

Another historic landmark is the church of Campegine. It was built on the ruins of San Pietro Castle and is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The story of the Cervi family highlights a different theme: it became a symbol of the courage and generosity of farmers from the Reggio region, and their steadfast refusal to submit to a totalitarian and violent fascist regime. The area's history also stretches further back: Campegine preserves traces of prehistoric settlements.

Nature Reserve and Birdlife

Admission to the Fontanili di Corte Valle Re nature reserve is free, provided visitors follow the rules of conduct that apply throughout the protected area. Guided visits are available on request. The paths open to visitors are completely flat. These details can help you plan a visit or enquire about a guided tour.

The reserve is home to waterbirds such as the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), the common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) and the little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus). Herons and other duck species are present during migration periods. If you are particularly interested in birds, you can take this seasonal detail into account when planning your visit.

Getting to the Nature Reserve

From the centre of Campegine, you can reach the nature reserve car park via Via F. Cavatorti. After crossing over the motorway, a side road branches off to the left and leads to the car park. If travelling by motorway, the Terre di Canossa-Campegine toll plaza provides access from the A1 between Milan and Bologna.

Discover more destinations: Il Cantone di Pieve Modolena, San Donnino Di Liguria, Correggio, Brescello, Gualtieri, Castelnovo Ne' Monti, San Giovanni, Castellazzo.

For the broader travel overview: Reggio Emilia.