If you are looking for a tourist destination that offers nature, history, culture, and gastronomy, Borgo Val di Taro is the place for you. Located in a basin surrounded by mountains along the course of the Taro river, Borgo Val di Taro is considered the capital of the high Val Taro in the Parmense Apennines. From here you can easily reach the beauties of the neighboring regions: Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, and Liguria.
Borgo Val di Taro has ancient origins, dating back to prehistory and Roman times. In the Middle Ages, it was an important feudal center, contested between the Malaspina, the Fieschi, the Landi, and the Estensi. In modern times it was the site of an important cattle fair, which attracted traders from all over Europe. During the Risorgimento, it was the scene of clashes between patriots and Austrians, and during the last two wars, it was a center of partisan resistance.
Borgo Val di Taro offers visitors numerous monuments and places of interest, which testify to its rich history and vibrant culture. Among these, you can admire the remains of the parish church of San Giorgio, the church of Sant’Antonino, the church of San Domenico, the church of San Rocco, the church of San Cristoforo, the castle, the Boveri palace, the Bertucci palace, the Tardiani palace, the Praetorian palace, and the Bertucci arch.
Borgo Val di Taro is also a paradise for nature and sports lovers. Its territory indeed offers the possibility of hiking, trekking, mountain biking, horse riding, fishing, canoeing, and rafting. Among the natural attractions, the Taro waterfalls stand out, which are located a few kilometers from the town and offer a suggestive spectacle.
Borgo Val di Taro is finally famous for its gastronomy, which is based on the typical products of the territory, such as the Borgotaro mushroom, the herb cake, the love, and the Parmigiano-Reggiano. The Borgotaro mushroom, in particular, is a variety of porcino that grows in the woods of the high Val Taro, between Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, and Liguria. It is the only Italian mushroom to have obtained the PGI mark, i.e., the Protected Geographical Indication, which guarantees its quality and origin.
The Borgotaro mushroom has a rounded and fleshy shape, with a light or dark brown cap, and a white or yellowish stem. Its flesh is firm and white, with a pleasant mushroom smell and an aromatic, sweet, and delicate flavor, reminiscent of hazelnut, licorice, and fresh wood.
The Borgotaro mushroom lends itself to many recipes, both simple and elaborate, which enhance its taste and aroma. It can be eaten raw, cut into thin slices and seasoned with oil, lemon, salt, and pepper, or cooked in a pan, in the oven, stewed, in a salad, in an omelet, or in a savory pie. It goes well with meat, fish, cheese, eggs, pasta, and rice.
Among the typical recipes of the Borgotaro territory, the tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms stand out, prepared with homemade egg pasta and a sauce of mushrooms sautéed in a pan with garlic, parsley, oil, and white wine. Another traditional dish is the risotto with porcini mushrooms, which is obtained by cooking the rice in a vegetable broth and adding the sautéed mushrooms at the end of cooking. Finally, a local specialty is the crüii c’u pursemuru, or the raw mushrooms, which consists of a carpaccio of mushrooms and beef, seasoned with oil, lemon, salt, pepper, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Borgo Val di Taro is therefore a place to discover, which will win you over with its beauties and its goodness. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit it and live an unforgettable experience!
