Visiting Colorno, Fontanellato and Soragna
We left early from Verona to make the most of what is, in our projects, should have been a Sunday-saturated culture. Gianni, Tina, even Agatina, Antonella and I Gianfranco, with a program drawn up by the organizer Prince (Gianni) we left around 7 am still sleepy but with a great desire to discover the beauty of the land Parmense. The first half is expected to be the palace of
Colorno monumental building erected around the XIII century to defend dell'olrepo subsequently amended and expanded to become in 1815 the Congress of Vienna Palace "Imperial" (ie, any residence of the Emperor of the French) and assigned to Napoleon's wife Marie Louise of Austria, Duchess of
Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla from 1816 to 1847. Before you can access the palace in the immense park where we entered the real loved to spend their days with their retinue of courtiers. With the help of various agencies are trying to return it to its former glory to unsuspecting tourists imagine what must have been in the good old days. We, frankly, hit much more the vastness of the environment now is very small compared to the past.
Once inside the palace with a tour we were preparing to attend a show of magnificence with lots of paintings, tapestries, period furniture etc.
Disappointment! None of this, but only the guide urged us to imagine with much effort of imagination than we would have to be in different rooms and that was not there. Only the floors were left! We found that at least this time the looting had not been implemented by Napoleon but, that's incredible, the Savoy boyars of Italy.
Left a little disappointed by the palace we refreshed the bar in front with a ham sandwich prosciuttto main product, together with salted pork, place.
The research network on Gianni
Fontanellato inerminabili made us curious and those few miles that separated us from our next destination. Reached its destination and checked the opening hours we opted for the lunch break.
Reached the place where we eat duvuto, operators with regret we have kindly pointed out that the place was fully booked by a wedding.
Retracing our steps we set out towards the castle at the center of the country are confident that we would have a place to eat but found!
And it did. La Grande Inn, located a few meters from the entrance of the castle, there seemed at first glance the place to sit. Choice was never more apt! Like good tourists, we have relied on expert hands sel manager, a nice guy helped by parents, who advised us as a first course of ravioli or lasagne.
Both dishes were surprisingly good but the beautiful, even the good, was yet to come. A triumph of salted pork sausage approached the king, with pieces of parmesan cheese, carefully chosen by the father of skilled managers in the field, watered by a sprightly white wine left us speechless. Fact mouths were too full to make room for quet'ultime.
After having to replicate some of the dishes and fed up with all that you could think of a cafe close this parenthesis dining at Locanda Great place that I recommend highly. In greeting the friendly managers we were also offered a digester that fell purpose because then we would have to trek a lot. Ah all this with less than 20 euros per person.
The entrance ticket to the castle also provided a guide that has clarified on various steps of the historic site. Finally, the fantasy has given way to reality, in fact preserves the noble apartment furnished with furniture and suppelettili 1500, 1600 and 1700. In a small room is one of the most splendid works of Italian Mannerism, painted by Parmigianino in 1524 with the myth of Diana and Atteone.Curiosa is the "camera obscura" from which, thanks to a system of lenses and prisms, the castle could secretly observe the life of the square.
Our journey continues to
Soragna.
Arrived a little tried to rock here too we have relied on the guide, very friendly, which helped us to understand the various vicissitudes of the place. Affects the variety of the contents of the rooms that range from treasures of art, clip pictorial magnificently frescoed halls, lounges, furnishings, galleries of ancestors, up in arms. Beautiful, really beautiful, the entire contents of the fortress. The exterior of the fortress does not say much, looks like a great old building! Exhausted by fatigue and confused by all these historical concepts we wanted to go back home but how could we leave this place steeped in history without at least passing by so-called "places Verdi?
The next stage is the birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi in Roncole Verdi.
We have entered almost out of time in this place that has seen the birth of one of the most famous Italian artists.
Very well-preserved house and the nice lady dell'ingesso that invites us also to visit the small cemetery where lies also a noted novelist John Guareschi, that of Don Camillo and Peppone to understand.
Through some country roads, not helped by the notorious navugatore TV, we headed home our beautiful Verona.
At 23 we were greeted with our traveling companions Tina and Gianni thanking them for the very pleasant company that once again we have offered.
Gianfranco.