Pecorile

The village of Pecorile is situated in the valley of the Campola stream where the roads to Canossa and Casina intersect. The current village probably originated as a result of the progressive aggregation of several buildings around a massive mediaeval tower-house that still stands in the centre, just a stone's throw from the parish church. This building, though much altered, still conserves some typical construction characteristics of mediaeval fortified architecture and was most likely built as a garrison in the valley along the road linking the Crostolo valley to the nearby castle of Canossa.

A further impetus to the development of the village was the building of the "ducal Cerreto road" by the Este family to join Reggio to the Cerreto Pass and Tuscany. With the subsequent construction of the current trunk road No. 63, the old "ducal" road lost much of its importance, taking a back seat in linking the main hill towns. Of particular note in the village is the parish church which features a fine ornate façade in floral style, stylistically attributable to the early decades of the twentieth century.

Immediately to the west of Pecorile, on top of the ridge that separates the Modolena valley from that of the Campola, there was once an important route which, starting from Mucciatella di Puianello, directly connected the plain with Canossa. The importance of this route is indicated by the presence of several other tower-houses that preside over the sides of the mountain at several points, evoking with their characteristic profiles a vivid image of the tight-knit defence fabric that once surrounded the nearby fortress of Canossa on each side. The fine church of Casola di Canossa, with its beautiful eighteenth-century style construction, most likely exists because of this route and is located about two kilometres above Pecorile. Next to the church can be seen another building that may once have been a mediaeval hospice, intended to assist pilgrims travelling along the ridge to Canossa and Tuscany.

Pecorile is an important stopping point in the series of trails that leads into the hilly terrain towards Canossa and the foothills of Reggio Emilia. Of these, a particularly significant one leads to the ancient castle of Canossa on the summit of Monte del Gesso, and then descends to the Pinetina Provincial Park of Vezzano, where it joins the Crostolo Valley cycle/pedestrian trail coming from Reggio Emilia. The annual festival of Pecorile provides a great occasion for socializing and trying local produce such as Tortelli, Cappelletti, and Parmesan cheese, with raffles of local products.