The best traffic-free bike rides around Rivergaro

A beautiful road leading from Rivergaro to Ponte dell'Olio. Challenging climbs, but manageable if you pedal normally. The descent to Ponte dell'Olio is also beautiful.

The 357th giant bench of the Big Bench Community Project was "born" in Veano di Vigolzone, next to the long tree-lined avenue. From here, visitors can admire the splendid panorama and landscape of the Piacenza hills and valley, while also learning about the history of one of Piacenza's most illustrious citizens: Giulio Alberoni, his College, the artistic heritage it houses, and the Veano estate. Cardinal red is the color of the large bench awaiting travelers, tourists, walkers, cyclists, and the large community of bench-holders in Veano; red like the purple of Giulio Alberoni's cardinal's robe, which stands out in the most famous portrait for which the illustrious Piacenza native is recognized worldwide. It is the second in the Vigolzone area, after the one in Villò, inaugurated in 2022. https://www.ilpiacenza.it/attualita/installata-una-panchina-gigante-a-veano.html © IlPiacenza

The Riva castle is a fortified complex located in Ponte dell'Olio, in the province of Piacenza. It is so called as it is located in the district of the same name in the town, whose name derives, in all probability, from its proximity to the Nure stream; the castle was, in fact, built on the right bank of the stream to control the passage along the Nure valley. Its location, near the point where the Nure begins to flow into the Po Valley, was strategic as it allowed control of the passage towards the sea: via the Aveto valley towards Liguria and via the Taro valley towards Lunigiana.

The avenue is closed. Private property, no passage, you can only look

The Riva Castle, of typical medieval construction, dates back to 1277 as attested by the inscription MCCLXXVII fuit factum hoc castrum, carved inside the manor, and its construction is due to the Del Cairo family of Piacenza, who in 1323 handed it over to Anguissola, appointed by Duke Visconti in 1468, counts of the fiefdom. In 1567 they sold it to Duke Ottavio Farnese who elevated it to a marquisate and gave it to Paolo Vitelli, one of the captains in his service. In 1703 Riva passed to Cesare and Carlo Maggi and then to the Cusani of Milan. In 1778 it was sold to the Sforza Fogliani and then to the Scribani Rossi. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the Roman prince Emanuele Ruspoli bought it, who completely renovated it in 1884, relying on the architect Angelo Colla, who was also responsible for the restoration of the Gothic Palace of Piacenza. The interventions are not limited to a conservative restoration, but involve a true reconstruction of the building in neo-medieval style which involves, among other things, the elevation of the keep and the creation of curtains and battlements. From Ruspoli the manor passed to the Fioruzzi family, and, therefore, to the current owner Sebastiano Grasso Camardi Polizzi.

The Riva Castle. On the right bank of the Nure torrent, between the watercourse and the road that goes up the lower Nure Valley, the Riva Castle stands out, 18 km from Piacenza, in the Castelli del Ducato circuit in Emilia Romagna. The stronghold of Riva was born in ancient times as a military outpost to control the passage over the territory, towards the sea, through the Val d'Aveto towards Liguria, the Val Taro towards Lunigiana and towards the Po Valley where the watercourse begins. The story in brief. The Riva Castle, of typical medieval construction, dates back to 1277 as attested by the inscription MCCLXXVII fuit factum hoc castrum, carved inside the manor, and its construction is due to the Del Cairo family of Piacenza, who in 1323 handed it over to Anguissola, appointed by Duke Visconti in 1468, counts of the fiefdom. In 1567 they sold it to Duke Ottavio Farnese who elevated it to a marquisate and gave it to Paolo Vitelli, one of the captains in his service. In 1703 Riva passed to Cesare and Carlo Maggi and then to the Cusani of Milan. In 1778 it was sold to the Sforza Fogliani and, then, to the Scribani Rossi. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the Roman prince Emanuele Ruspoli bought it. Source: Castles of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza, Guastalla and Pontremoli

It may seem paradoxical, but in Ponte dell'Olio there is a splendid bridge over the Nure stream. Coming from Vigolzone or Rivergaro, you will have a splendid bell tower in front of you.

Beautiful private drive