Tuscan-Emilian Apennines: between peaks, living woods, and Dante's Stone

On the border between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, the Apennines reclaim their most authentic face: the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park is an immense protected area where mountain environments of all types coexist, set within centuries-old woods.

From the panoramic points, which are also the highest peaks (Mount Cusna, Mount Prado, Alpe di Succiso), there is a truly unusual landscape: on one side you can see the Tyrrhenian Sea, but if you look out from the other side, you can spot the Alps. And for literature lovers, amidst the high-altitude grasslands, the famous Pietra di Bismantova also stands out, a huge calcarenite rock of 1,047 meters that Dante cites in Purgatory.

The park is also home to extraordinary biodiversity: you can also find rare plants such as Delphiniun fissum or Alyssoides utriculata.

These are the main reasons to visit: the dramatic and diverse landscapes allow you to see glacial bogs and lush beech forests, which change appearance with the seasons. Here you can have a sustainable experience with trekking, cycling, horseback riding, birdwatching, winter sports, and lots of local gastronomic heritage like Parmigiano Reggiano, honey, chestnuts, and mushrooms.

You can get there from Parma or Reggio Emilia by reaching the municipalities of Castelnovo ne’ Monti, Corniglio, Villa Minozzo. The CAI trails are well-marked and frequented, and local tourist facilities are indicated.

cover photo credits Parco Nazionale Appennino Tosco Emiliano