Travelling between fortresses and castles

The cycling route passes through Scandiano, dominated by the massive and square Rocca dei Boiardo. Matteo Maria Boiardo, author of Orlando Innamorato, was born here. Continuing on, we come to the Castle of Montechiarugolo, a 15th-century Visconti fortress and one of the best-preserved castles in the province of Parma, composed of cylindrical towers, a moat and rooms frescoed with scenes of courtly life. Emilian castles are not romantic: they are practical. They served to defend themselves, but also to govern, administer, collect taxes. They were centres of concrete power, not scenic decorations. Today the castle can be visited and hosts contemporary art exhibitions. The route then returns to the plains through the countryside. We pedal along secondary roads where the traffic is that of tractors.