Motta Baluffi

The Taro (Latin Tarus) is a river in Emilia-Romagna, in northern Italy. It is a tributary of the Po and is 126 kilometres (78 mi) long. It flows almost entirely in the province of Parma, west of the city Parma. The Taro flows into the Po near Gramignazzo, a frazione of the comune of Sissa, north of Parma. The Val di Taro, or Taro valley, the drainage basin of the river, occupies an area of 2,026 square kilometres (782 sq mi). The principal affluents of the Taro are the Ceno, Recchio and Stirone; others are the Gotra and Tarodine. Both the Taro and the Ceno rise on Monte Penna, elevation 1,735 metres (5,692 ft), in the Apennine Mountains on the border between the provinces of Genoa and Parma. The river shows strong seasonal variability. In summer it can easily dry, while in rainy periods it can reach a discharge of 1,000 cubic metres per second (35,000 cu ft/s): this value can double on rare occasions, known Italian: piene centennali, "centennial floods", such as that of November 9, 1982. The Val di Taro was of strategic importance during the Middle Ages, as it was traversed by the Via Francigena, the pilgrim route and main connection between Rome and France in that era. About 20 kilometres (12 mi) of the river course between Fornovo di Taro and Ponte Taro constitutes the protected area of the Parco fluviale Regionale del Taro, the Taro regional natural park. The area of the park includes the river bed itself, with numerous islets of sand and gravel and wetland areas, and surrounding areas of woodland, scrub and cultivated soil; it has a wide variety of vegetation and fauna.Following the French conquest of Italy in the Napoleonic Wars, the river gave its name to a département, the Département du Taro.

The Castello or Castle of Roccabianca, also called Rocca dei Rossi, is a castle built in the town of Roccabianca, province of Parma, Emilia Romagna, northern Italy. It was built and decorated in 1460 by the lord of San Secondo, Pier Maria II de' Rossi, for his great love Bianca Pellegrini. From the Rossi family, it passed to the Pallavicino, and later to the Rangoni family. In 1831 the castle was acquired by Maria Luigia of Parma, becoming a direct possession of the Duchy of Parma. The castle has undergone much despoiling, most prominently a 15th-century cycle of frescoes depicting the Story of Griselda da Saluzzo from the novel of Decameron of Boccaccio, which was detached and taken to Milan. A copy was frescoed in the 20th century. Other rooms contain allegorical frescoes, portraits, and landscapes. The castle is now used for cultural and private events. It houses the Museum of Distilling.

The Stirone is a small river of Emilia-Romagna in north Italy, a left tributary of the Taro, which it joins shortly before the latter enters the Po. The sources of the river are on the slopes of Monte Mezzano and Monte Santa Cristina. Part of the course of the river forms the boundary between the provinces of Piacenza and Parma. It then forms the basis of the Parco Regionale Fluviale Stirone, which is especially known for its fossils, and reaches the town of Fidenza. The river joins the Taro at Fontanelle, a frazione of Roccabianca. According to tradition, Domninus of Fidenza was martyred on its banks in 304 AD.

Rocca dei Rossi is a castle located at piazza Mazzini #12 in the town of San Secondo Parmense, province of Parma, in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. A different Rocca dei Rossi, also known as Castello di Roccabianca, is located in the town of Roccabianca.

San Secondo Parmense (Sansecondino: San Sgond or Sasgon; Parmigiano: San Zgónd) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 200 kilometres (120 mi) northwest of Bologna and about 15 kilometres (9 mi) northwest of Parma. San Secondo Parmense borders the following municipalities: Fontanellato, Roccabianca, Sissa Trecasali, Soragna. The main sights are the Rocca dei Rossi castle and a Romanesque rural church, the Pieve di San Genesio, first documented in the 11th century.

San Genesio is a Romanesque architecture, Roman Catholic pieve, or rural parish church, on the road to Busseto, outside of San Secondo Parmense, province of Parma, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. The church is known from documentation from 1084. It is cited as a pieve church by 1195. The present structure seems to have been completed over the centuries: the lower part of the apse derives from an early church of the 11th century. After a flood of the river Taro in the 13th-century, the church was reconstructed in the present layout with three semicircular apses and a nave divided on each side by seven arches. It appears the population of the area also moved after 1470, when the new town center of San Secondo was founded with a new parish church (Annunziata) by Pier Maria II de' Rossi. By 1787, the church was deconsecrated, and being used as a home and warehouse. The length of the nave was shortened and the new, present facade was built. In 1967–72, a restoration attempted to highlight the early romanesque elements.

Pieve d'Olmi (Cremunés: La Piéev) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Cremona in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 90 kilometres (56 mi) southeast of Milan and about 9 kilometres (6 mi) southeast of Cremona. Pieve d'Olmi borders the following municipalities: Bonemerse, Malagnino, San Daniele Po, Sospiro, Stagno Lombardo, Polesine Zibello.

The Ducal Palace, also known as Reggia di Colorno, is an edifice in the territory of Colorno (province of Parma), Emilia Romagna, Italy. The palace we see today was refurbished by Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma in the early 18th century on the remains of a former castle.

The Battle of Colorno consisted of two battles, fought between 25 May and 5 June 1734, between Franco-Sardinian and Austrian (Habsburg) troops as part of the War of Polish Succession. Begun on 25 May 1734, the Imperial Austro-German armies conquered and occupied Colorno and its palace during the decisive attack of 1 June. During the second battle of 4-5 June the Franco-Piedmontese drove them out of Colorno again, forcing them to withdraw. These events were part of the Polish War of Succession and were the prelude of the larger Battle of San Pietro, which took place in the Valera Campaign, outside the walls of Parma, on 29 June 1734.

Colorno (Parmigiano: Colórni) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Parma, within the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. It is located about 90 kilometres (56 mi) northwest of Bologna and approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Parma. Colorno borders the following municipalities: Casalmaggiore, Gussola, Martignana di Po, Mezzani, Sissa Trecasali, and Torrile.

Malagnino (Cremunés: Malagnéen) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Cremona in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southeast of Milan and about 7 kilometres (4 mi) east of Cremona. Malagnino borders the following municipalities: Bonemerse, Cremona, Gadesco-Pieve Delmona, Pieve d'Olmi, Sospiro, Vescovato.

Stagno Lombardo (Cremunés: Stàgn) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Cremona in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southeast of Milan and about 8 kilometres (5 mi) southeast of Cremona. Stagno Lombardo borders the following municipalities: Bonemerse, Castelvetro Piacentino, Cremona, Gerre de' Caprioli, Pieve d'Olmi, Polesine Zibello, Villanova sull'Arda.