The itinerary starts with a visit to the hamlet of Fontanelle, where the “Piccolo Mondo” Museum is located. It includes highly evocative materials, together with both visual and sound documentation, based on materials from the Guareschi family Archive, the “Movimento Cooperativo” Archive and the Municipal Historical Archives of Roccabianca. The hamlet is also Giovannino Guareschi’s birthplace: the writer was born in Fontanelle and his house overlooks “Piazza Balestrieri”.
In Fontanelle, you will find the “Faraboli” Monument: “Piazza Balestrieri” celebrates the memory of another important figure, the trade unionist and pioneer of the cooperative movement Giovanni Faraboli (1876-1953).
It is worth mentioning the Church dedicated to St. Martin in 1792 – also for its literary references in Guareschi’s works. The religious building has been considered as one of the main inspirations for the writer in the creation process of Don Camillo’s church. Fontanelle is also home to the “Gruppo amici di Giovannino Guareschi” association, which preserves part of the documentation, including photos and books related the the writer and to his birthplace, Fontanelle, as well as an exhibition of calendars of the past. 

The tour continues with the Port of Stagno: for its characteristics, Stagno can be considered as one of the most representative natural areas of Roccabianca. Its accessible embankments make it possible to explore the typical river environment of this land.

The itinerary ends with a stop in the town centre. “Piazza Minozzi” is enclosed by porticoes, one of the most characteristic features of the urban complex. The square is particularly related to the history of the castle. Although its U-shaped structure dates back to the 18th century, this was already a trading centre and a place for social interaction in the time of the Fortress construction. Over the centuries, the buildings overlooking the square have housed workshops, stables, inns with accommodations for travellers. During the post World War II period, the square was named after Loris Minozzi, a young partisan from Roccabianca, who fell during the Liberation War. Near the square, you may also admire the Roccabianca Castle, the main historical monument of the town. It was built around 1460, by the will of the lord of Roccabianca – Count Pier Maria Rossi. The fortified building mostly retains its original architectural features. The construction of the Fortress coincided with the founding of Roccabianca (as a consequence of the fusion of two preexisting villages, Tolarolo and Rezenoldo). The town name is associated with an old legend: Count Pier Maria wanted to dedicate the imposing building to Lombard noblewoman Bianca Pellegrini, even though he was married to Antonia Torelli from Parma.
The “Arena del Sole” Theatre is another important cultural element: over time, the theatre has become a significant meeting place and leisure facility. Inside, it preserves nine statues by sculptor Ettore Ximenes, once placed in the great monument dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi – located next to the Parma railway station. The statues depict the operas “Alzira”, “I Masnadieri”, “Oberto Conte di San Bonifacio”, “Aida”, “MacBeth”, “Ernani”, “Don Carlos” and the personifications of the Battle of Legnano and the Battle Hymns. Recently, the theatre has been purchased by the Municipality, with the aim of bringing the building back to its ancient magnificence, and making it a centre for events, conferences and cultural initiatives, as well as tourism promotion.

Finally, make sure to visit the Church dedicated to St. Bartholomew and St. Michael: the religious building stands near the Fortress and its foundation dates back to the late 16th century, but it has been deeply transformed as a consequence of restoration works carried out at the end of the 17th century. Its nave and lateral chapels are still characterized by stuccoes and decorations from the Late Mannerism period, while both the presbytery and the choir were renovated in 1723.