Well you know, the good weather leads us to spend time outdoors, especially in the summer, when we often look for places where to relax and to find coolness. From this point of view, Modena offers several opportunities! One of these (and not too far from the center) is the river park of Marano, a place that I have often frequented when I was a teenager and where I’ve recently come back. I’ll tell you something more.

The river park: a good idea for an outdoor trip not too far from the city

I’ve already written about places in the province of Modena that are perfect for outdoor trips. I told you for example about Bucamante Waterfalls, near Serramazzoni, and about the beautiful trekking at Scaffaiolo Lake, in Apennines. Here, I want to tell you about my recent experience at the river park of “Marano sul Panaro”.

Who follow me on social networks knows that I have recently become mom and this is not a small detail 😉
My life has obviously changed and I’ve started to study my itineraries in the city to measure of my little baby. This is why, on a Sunday in August, I needed to think where to go for a ride with my family without spending too much time in the car. Marano sul Panaro turned out to be the perfect destination!

Some details about the river park of Marano

Marano sul Panaro is a small municipality belonging to the Union of the Lands of the Castles (L’Unione delle Terre di Castelli), located on the first hills of the province of Modena, overlooking the banks of the Panaro river.

To reach it from Modena, take the Vignolese Road directly from the city and once you reach Vignola, before arriving in the center, follow the signs on the right for Marano sul Panaro. Turn right and after few kilometers you will reach the town. Passed it, you will find the free car park just ahead on the left (you see it because you will recognize the small kiosk). Driving time from Modena: about 30 minutes.

Once you have parked, you can venture on the banks of the river, looking for your relaxing position on the lawn of the large shady park.

This place, very popular in the summer, is perfect for a variety of activities as for example lying comfortably in the sun, taking long walks in the surroundings, riding your bicycle on the various paths, cooling off in the river or, finally, organizing a beautiful picnic.

Better yet if it’s a barbecue! Yes, the river park of Marano is the right place for barbecue masters, thanks to its picnic area equipped with numerous tables, wooden benches, barbecues and grills in a delimited and secured place. Pay attention: before organizing your barbecue, I suggest you to contact the manager of the picnic area or the offices of the “Terre di Castelli” association to verify the possibility and availability.

A kiosk bar (where you need to go to register before have your barbecue), a playground for children and a stage for events and concerts complete the park services.

In short, the river park of Marano, “Marano beach”, as we usually call it, is the ideal place to spend a few hours immersed in the nature, among the woods, green meadows and the waters of the Panaro river and… why don’t wait here for the sunset when the rays of the sun descend and cross the branches of the trees, creating plays of light to immortalize?! 🙂

To finish the day in a perfect way: have a dinner in a typical restaurant in the surroundings!

What could be better than finishing the day by going to a typical restaurant for dinner?
I went in Vignola at the Trattoria La Campagnola (via Via Cà de Barozzi 12), very famous for its incredible borlenghi, a kind of very thin and crunchy crêpe, folded into 4 and served hot, obtained by mixing water, flour and salt (sometimes even eggs). This extremely liquid dough, called "the glue", is then poured onto the "cooked", two traditional iron plates with a diameter of about 30 cm without a rim and with a long handle. The classic filling is "cunza", which is a mixture of lard, garlic and rosemary, with, of course, a nice addition of grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

What to say... it was a perfect day, to redo often! Don't you think?