Noceto between landscape, Nocino tradition and art

When looking for a hotel in Noceto, it is worth considering the town in terms of its specific features: its landscape, Nocino tradition and the art in the Chiesa di San Martino each offer a different perspective. This lets you shape your travel plans around what interests you about this destination, without reducing Noceto to a single activity.

Landscape on the first Apennine slopes

Noceto lies on the slopes of the first hills of the Parma Apennines. The area is not exclusively hilly: it also includes flat areas, valleys and plateaus. To understand the surroundings, it is therefore the combination of different types of terrain that matters, rather than a single landscape label. The slopes reflect the town’s position by the Apennines; the flat areas, valleys and plateaus add other features to the picture. So if you consider the landscape when choosing a destination, you will find more than one uniform type of terrain in Noceto.

Nocino and an annual competition

A distinctive local product story is associated with Nocino di Noceto. Production began in 2000; only walnuts gathered in Noceto are used, following the Cotti family recipe. The Cotti family has been from Noceto for more than 400 years. Two different timelines therefore sit side by side: the family’s roots go back more than four centuries, while production of Nocino di Noceto began in 2000.

The story also includes a Nocino competition, held every year on the last Sunday in September. The competition offers a specific date connected to the local product tradition. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the date and programme for the relevant year in advance.

Art in the Chiesa di San Martino

The Chiesa di San Martino houses 18 works of art catalogued as being of national interest. These include a large painting from 1832, attributed to Francesco Scaramuzza, depicting Saint Martin on horseback. The attribution identifies the artist associated with the work; its date and subject give it a distinct character. At the same time, it forms part of a larger collection of 18 catalogued works of art. Thus, a single painting described in detail sits alongside the number of artworks in the church.

Getting there and finding your way

Noceto can be reached via the Autostrada del Sole, taking the Pontetaro exit, via the Via Emilia, and via Provincial Road 357 della Cisa. The Via Emilia is a historic road connecting provincial capitals. These routes therefore offer different options for getting there: a motorway with a named exit, a historic connecting road and a provincial road. For your specific journey, you can compare these details with your starting address and check navigation information and road conditions in advance.

The Taro and its diversity of birds

The Taro forms Noceto’s eastern boundary. The Parco Fluviale Regionale del Taro is designated a European Special Protection Area because of its great diversity of birds. This connection with nature and protected areas adds another focus to the description of the terrain. Unlike the Nocino tradition or the art in San Martino, the emphasis here is on bird diversity.

Discover more destinations: Ponte Taro, Monchio Delle Corti, Santa Maria Del Piano, Bore, Varano Marchesi, San Prospero, Valditacca, Vicomero

For the wider travel overview: Parma.