View of Cavola among the meadows and woods of the Reggio Emilia Apennines

The village and its area

Almost nine centuries of history between the Secchia valley and the ridges of the Reggio Emilia Apennines: parish churches, stonemasons, pilgrim ways and oak woods.

The history Getting here
Nine centuries of history

From "Cavella" to Cavola

The village's ancient name first appears in twelfth-century documents, linked to a hospice for mountain travellers.

1148

The hospitale de Cavella

Documents from 1148 and 1156 mention the hospice of Cavella, a shelter for the pilgrims and travellers who walked the ancient ridgeways, on the road leading to the hospice of San Giacomo.

1218

The oath at Reggio

Cavola appears in the oath of loyalty to the Comune of Reggio Emilia, alongside the other mountain communities.

1461

The Statutes

1 April 1461 is the date of the decree enacting the Statuta Podestariae Toani et Cavlae: together with Toano, Cavola gives its name to the local podesteria.

1600s

The Ceccati masters

The Ceccati workshop began in Cavola: stonemasons and sculptors whose portals, altars and stonework are found throughout the Apennines. The oratory of the Madonna della Neve holds a fine seventeenth-century wooden altar by Francesco Ceccati.

1898

The Cavola band is founded

Nineteen villagers began studying music with maestro Giuseppe Pignedoli: the date is still written inside the oldest bass drum. The band has enlivened the village's festivals and celebrations ever since.

1988

The first Truffle Festival

The Pro Loco organises the first truffle festival in the province of Reggio Emilia: since then Cavola has been "the little Alba of Reggio".

Art and stone

What to see

A small heritage of carved stone, kept among the village lanes and the surrounding countryside.

The bell tower of Cavola among the village rooftops

Church of San Michele Arcangelo

Cavola's parish church, with remarkable stone carving on the portal and side façades, the work of the local stonemasons' tradition.

Oratory of the Madonna della Neve

A small oratory that holds a richly carved seventeenth-century wooden altar by Francesco Ceccati. Nearby, the Corte Baroni bears witness to Apennine rural architecture.

CavolaForum

CavolaForum

The multipurpose venue run by the Pro Loco: home to the Truffle Festival lunches, events, sport and initiatives for the whole village.

The area

The tiny village of Cavola is crossed by the "Sentiero Matildico e del Volto Santo", a path running from Mantua to Lucca, once walked by pilgrims from the North on their way to Rome and to the holy places. Cavola is a crossroads of trails, all rewarding and none demanding, which lead to enchanting corners of the Reggio Emilia Apennines: the castle of Carpineti, the beautiful Secchia valley, the splendid Pietra di Bismantova and the fine succession of Apennine peaks — Alpe di Succiso, monte Casarola and the enchanting Cusna.

Art and culture

Following the Sentiero Matildico e del Volto Santo, visitors can discover and admire several artistic treasures of the area. The route begins at the splendid altar of the Oratory of the Madonna della Neve, a Baroque masterpiece by Francesco Domenico Ceccati, and continues with the Ceccati birthplace in the hamlet of Stiano, the Ceccati museum in Corneto and the churches of Corneto and Massa, rich in works of great value by the Ceccati dynasty. It goes on to the thousand-year-old Matildic parish church of Toano and the recent archaeological excavations beside it. The artistic tour ends in the parish church of Cavola, home to a splendid Ceccati baptistery and several other works of artistic value. In the centre of the village stands the fine "Baroni" manor house, with a beautiful stone inset bearing the coat of arms of the Baroni family, now owned by the Scalabrini family.

Pilgrim ways

In Matilda's footsteps

Cavola is a mountain stage of the Via Matildica del Volto Santo, the pilgrim way that links Mantua to Lucca through the lands of the Great Countess.

Portrait of Matilda of Canossa
Image: Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Pilgrim way

Via Matildica del Volto Santo

The route connects Mantua, the Reggio Emilia Apennines and Lucca. Cavola is a mountain stage for those crossing the area on foot, among parish churches, villages and ridges.

The central figure of this story is the Great Countess Matilda of Canossa: the way evokes the land and the deep legacy of the places tied to her.

Path of the Via Matildica

The Carpineti–Toano stage

The Reggio Emilia stretch of the way passes through Cavola as it climbs the Secchia valley, along the ancient ridgeways of the medieval pilgrims.

Pilgrim way

The route near Cavola

Open the route
Path of the Via Matildica in the woods near Cavola
Local image. Google Maps opens only when you choose “Open the route”.
Experiences

Things to do in Cavola

From sky to nightfall: six ways to enjoy the village and the Reggio Emilia Apennines at any time of day.

Sky

Views, clean air and ridgelines Test description.

Land

Hiking, cycling and nature For lovers of nature and horses, at the foot of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines: lessons, horse riding and trekking. In summer the tennis court is also available.

Food

Traditional mountain flavours The finest local tradition in Cavola’s restaurants and pizzerias, with attention to detail and the warm welcome of local restaurateurs.

Entertainment

Events: music, markets and culture CavolaForum

Nightlife

Squares: meeting spots, shops and village life Life continues after dark in Cavola, with evenings organised by some of the best-known venues in the Apennines.

Overnight stays

Evening: dinners, strolls and stars In Cavola, an area of particular historical and scenic interest, you can also enjoy moments of peace and relaxation with a family welcome.
  • B & B Pratopiano · Cavola
  • Albergo Ristorante Miramonti · Toano
  • Albergo Ristorante La Collina · Massa di Toano
  • Albergo Locanda Vezzosi · Colombaia di Carpineti
At the table all year round

Where to eat

Beyond the festival lunches, the village and its surroundings offer restaurants and trattorias serving mountain cooking: mushrooms, truffles, Parmigiano-Reggiano and the fresh pasta of the Emilian tradition.

Open the list of the nearest places, or ask the Pro Loco for advice: we're biased, but only towards those who cook well.

Find restaurants
Where to eat

Restaurants near Cavola

A table set with dishes of Apennine cooking
Local image. The external search starts only from the “Find restaurants” button.
Cavola in motion

The village from above

The Pro Loco's video tells the story of Cavola among the rooftops, meadows and woods of the Secchia valley.

View of the village of Cavola in the Reggio Emilia Apennines
Cavola di ToanoVia Santa Maria 5 · 42010 Cavola (RE), Italy
Where we are

Getting here

  • 1
    By carAlong the Secchia valley, towards Casina, Carpineti and Toano, in the Reggio Emilia Apennines.
  • 2
    AddressVia Santa Maria 5 · 42010 Cavola (RE), Italy
  • 3
    From Reggio EmiliaAbout 45 km towards the Apennines, a 50-minute drive.
  • 4
    On footAlong the Via Matildica del Volto Santo, Carpineti–Toano stage.
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