Barco
Welcome to Barco di Bibbiano!
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Barco di Bibbiano, a small hamlet in the province of Reggio Emilia, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and steeped in the history of the region. Take some time to discover this hidden gem, which will leave you speechless!
A privileged geographical location
Located north of Bibbiano, Barco borders the municipalities of Cavriago and Montecchio Emilia; it is only 10.7 km from Reggio Emilia. Its privileged location makes it an important reference point in the val d'Enza area.
A millenary history
Barco is mentioned for the first time in a diploma from 781 in the diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastalla. Later, it was annexed to the marquisate of Montecchio. In 1859, with the Farini decree, it was merged with the municipality of Bibbiano. These are just some of the many elements that make Barco a place of great historical value.
Monuments and places of interest
Visiting Barco also means discovering the artistic and cultural heritage of the area. The Church of San Pietro Apostolo, belonging to the diocese of Parma and now to the vicariate of Bibbiano, was built in 1645 and renovated at the end of the eighteenth century. The bell tower, built in 1708, unfortunately collapsed following an earthquake, but was rebuilt in 1821. The Oratory of San Rocco, built in 1631 on the occasion of the Plague of 1630, with the facade completed in 1778, is another must-see stop to visit.
Furthermore, since 2008, Barco boasts the first monument to Parmigiano-Reggiano, consisting of a block of Carrara marble 3 and a half meters high representing a slice of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a giant drop-shaped knife, and a facade with staggered shutters typical of the architecture of the Reggio cheese factories. Designed by Michelangelo Galliani, the monument was placed on a green grass field, nourishment for the bos taurus dairy cows. Although legend has it that Barco is the birthplace of Parmigiano-Reggiano, there is no historical evidence to support this.
The eco-friendly bio-building nursery school pole
Barco is home to one of the largest eco-friendly bio-building school poles in Italy: a nursery school inaugurated on September 6, 2008, which uses geothermal and solar energy, as well as a rainwater recovery system. An ideal place to raise our children, immersed in nature and energy efficiency.
Infrastructure and transport
Barco is a primary road junction in the val d'Enza area; it is located at the intersection of SP 28, which connects Reggio Emilia to Montecchio Emilia, and SP 22, which from Barco leads to San Polo d'Enza. Furthermore, Barco has its own stop along the Reggio Emilia-Ciano d'Enza railway, which can also be reached by bus for Montecchio residents. Until 1955, a Barco-Montecchio railway departed from the Barco station, to remember an important historical past.
I hope that these brief pieces of information have piqued your interest in visiting Barco di Bibbiano. Its nature, history, and culture will leave you speechless, a true hidden treasure in Emilia Romagna!
