About an hour north of Fezzano, the small town of Borgo Val di Taro sits in the beautiful Alta Taro valley in the Apennine mountains.

It’s an area renowned for natural beauty and fine food, including production of that legendary cheese, Parmigiana-Reggiano.

 

Though it's in Emilia-Romagna, Borgotaro - as it’s more commonly known - is close to the borders of Liguria and Tuscany as well.
Though it's in Emilia-Romagna, Borgotaro - as it’s more commonly known - is close to the borders of Liguria and Tuscany as well.
So it's in a strategically important location.
So it's in a strategically important location.
And while it's a thriving, modern town today, there's plenty of history on show here.
And while it's a thriving, modern town today, there's plenty of history on show here.
It's a very pretty town. This is the local deli.
It's a very pretty town. This is the local deli.
And the butcher.
And the butcher.
We do love the way Italian pasticcerias wrap your pastries to go.
We do love the way Italian pasticcerias wrap your pastries to go.
 
Borgotaro is also home to our lovely friends, Rita and Elio, and we were delighted to receive personalised tours of the town. :)
Borgotaro is also home to our lovely friends, Rita and Elio, and we were delighted to receive personalised tours of the town. 🙂
This great little shop sells every kind of local delicacy.
This great little shop sells every kind of local delicacy.
Porcini mushrooms are a specialty - so much so that they're IGP certified (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) - and there’s a Mushroom Museum here and a Mushroom Festa in September.
Porcini mushrooms are a specialty - so much so that they're IGP certified (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) - and there’s a Mushroom Museum here and a Mushroom Festa in September.
Elio is an optician - he opened this shop in the town's main street 42 years ago. Now he and his son, Giacomo, run the business together.
Elio is an optician - he opened this shop in the town's main street 42 years ago. Now he and his son, Giacomo, run the business together.
Rita is a pharmacist. Her business was one of very few to remain open during the Covid lockdown.
Rita is a pharmacist. Her business was one of very few to remain open during the Covid lockdown.
In those dark days, Rita says, the line of people waiting for help often stretched along the street and around the corner.
In those dark days, Rita says, the line of people waiting for help often stretched along the street and around the corner.
And this is Rita and Elio's beautiful home just on the edge of the town centre.
And this is Rita and Elio's beautiful home just on the edge of the town centre.
Built as a private villa in 1926, it also had a previous life as a gelateria.
Built as a private villa in 1926, it also had a previous life as a gelateria.
These windows replaced what was once the entry to the store.
These windows replaced what was once the entry to the store.
Rita and Elio spent four and a half years renovating the property and creating their beautiful home.
Rita and Elio spent four and a half years renovating the property and creating their beautiful home.
 
One of the best things about Italy is the delicious simplicity of the food.
One of the best things about Italy is the delicious simplicity of the food.
Elio prepared a wonderful lunch of pasta con arselle - spaghetti with tiny pippies gathered from the shores of the Gulf of La Spezia.
Elio prepared a wonderful lunch of pasta con arselle - spaghetti with tiny pippies gathered from the shores of the Gulf of La Spezia.
Oil, garlic, a bit of chili, tomatoes, pasta and super fresh pippies.
Oil, garlic, a bit of chili, tomatoes, pasta and super fresh pippies.
A sensational lunch on the table in 20 minutes. Squisito! :) Followed then by tomatoes and mozzarella, prosciutto with big chunks of aged parmigiana and, finally, organic apricots and blueberries. Simple. Fresh. And absolutely delicious.
A sensational lunch on the table in 20 minutes. Squisito! 🙂 Followed then by tomatoes and mozzarella, prosciutto with big chunks of aged parmigiana and, finally, organic apricots and blueberries. Simple. Fresh. And absolutely delicious.
Fortunately, there are any number of excellent walking tracks around Borgotaro.
Fortunately, there are any number of excellent walking tracks around Borgotaro.
This path, alongside the Taro River, connects the town with Pontremoli to the south.
This path, alongside the Taro River, connects the town with Pontremoli to the south.
It's a 30-km section of the Via degli Abati, a route once used by pilgrims travelling to Rome to pay homage to the Pope, and still popular with walkers today.
It's a 30-km section of the Via degli Abati, a route once used by pilgrims travelling to Rome to pay homage to the Pope, and still popular with walkers today.
The route includes small chapels where pilgrims did - and do - pause to pray.
The route includes small chapels where pilgrims did - and do - pause to pray.
This rail bridge just outside Borgotaro was strategically important to the Germans in WW2 so was a target for Allied bombers. Wave after wave came in, reducing the surrounding countryside to little more than a series of craters in the earth. But the bridge itself remained intact.
This rail bridge just outside Borgotaro was strategically important to the Germans in WW2 so was a target for Allied bombers. Wave after wave came in, reducing the surrounding countryside to little more than a series of craters in the earth. But the bridge itself remained intact.
About 5 years ago, an unexploded bomb was found by the side of the road here. Fortunately, it was safely excavated and defused - but it's hard to understand how a bomb lay undetected and unexploded, so close to the surface and the road, for so many years.
About 5 years ago, an unexploded bomb was found by the side of the road here. Fortunately, it was safely excavated and defused - but it's hard to understand how a bomb lay undetected and unexploded, so close to the surface and the road, for so many years.
But that’s not the only reminder of the war around here. This 1942 US military 'Willys’ is a familiar sight in town. The owner gave us a full rundown on the history of the vehicle and where weapons were kept for ready access when necessary.
But that’s not the only reminder of the war around here. This 1942 US military 'Willys’ is a familiar sight in town. The owner gave us a full rundown on the history of the vehicle and where weapons were kept for ready access when necessary.
Greg and I feel so fortunate to have dear friends like Rita and Elio in Borgotaro, and the wonderful Piccio family in Piedmont. Seeing them all again has been a joy!
Greg and I feel so fortunate to have dear friends like Rita and Elio in Borgotaro, and the wonderful Piccio family in Piedmont. Seeing them all again has been a joy!