Savignano sul Panaro between castle, museums and hills

Village, castle and medieval traces

The area around Savignano sul Panaro was historically crossed by the ancient Roman road Via Claudia. The Castello di Savignano has been documented since 1026. Its present structure is marked by a stone tower; beneath it, an arched gateway opens with a fresco by an unknown female or male artist depicting the Madonna and Child. According to some studies, the originally diamond-shaped complex was later extended and fortified with three rows of walls and towers.

The origins of the Torre dei Nanni are uncertain. It was built as a watchtower so that the inhabitants of Borgo Castello could defend themselves against imminent enemy attacks. The historic town center is still surrounded by a triple ring of 14th-century walls. Documents from 1027 and 1033 attest to the presence of the Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Assunta at this site; the present structure dates from 1746. The Oratorio di San Rocco in the medieval village was built to ward off the plague of 1631.

A few kilometers from the center, near the mill in the hills along the Panaro, lies the birthplace of Giuseppe Graziosi. The building is a tower house dating from the 16th to the 18th century, with a central section and two side wings. It houses “Il Mosaico Riscoperto,” a polychrome mosaic from the beginning of the 5th century AD that once decorated the interior of a wealthy rural dwelling.

Museums and sightseeing

The Museo dell'Elefante displays the skeleton of a female Mammutus meridionalis. Dioramas, explanatory panels and replicas of additional finds supplement the educational itinerary. At the Museo della Venere, you can see a copy of the Venere di Savignano, as well as reproductions of comparable prehistoric figures from Italy and Europe. The Museo della Venere e dell'Elefante is open on Sundays and public holidays from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; on weekdays, opening and guided tours are available by prior reservation.

Magnalonga, wines and local cuisine

The Magnalonga Diurna follows a 10-kilometer route through the hills of Savignano sul Panaro. Wines from the hills are presented, while traditional regional dishes are combined with music and dancing. The Magnalonga Notturna begins at sunset, follows a somewhat shorter route than the daytime event and continues until dawn. It was established in 2014 and takes place at night by the light of flashlights and the moon; typical recipes and wines from the wineries of Savignano sul Panaro are sampled along the way.

The Lotta per la Spada dei Contrari is an annual historical reenactment in the medieval village of Savignano sul Panaro. Guided tours are offered both at the Poderi Fiorini wine cellar and in the Torre dei Nanni. The Cocktail Experience is available year-round from Monday to Saturday by prior reservation and includes groups of 5 to 15 participants. The area around Savignano sul Panaro is also considered typical for the production of Prosciutto di Modena.

Hills and nature

The Via delle Querce leads through the hills of Savignano sul Panaro and runs along the southeastern side of the Bazzanese state road. Numerous enormous oak trees grow there and could be regarded as genuine natural monuments. Together with the banks of the Panaro, the upper plateau and the historic rings of walls, they create a destination where you can discover museums, architecture, regional cuisine and the landscape in a variety of ways.

More destinations for planning your trip to Italy: San Donnino, Fiumalbo, Formigine, Ca Di Sola, Romanoro, Fiorano Modenese, Modena, Torre Maina

To the higher-level travel overview: Modena.