THINGS TO DO IN EMILIA WITH CHILDREN

The Fairy Tale Park represents the most significant innovation in Gropparello’s offering. It is not a conventional playground, but a journey through the ‘pedagogy of the imagination’. It is very important to emphasise the educational and psychological aims of the experience: bringing a fairy tale to life is not merely entertainment, but a tool to encourage socialisation, self-esteem and the overcoming of fears in children through ‘role-play’. Young visitors, dressed as knights and guided by forest characters, face ‘tests of courage’ that transform the visit into a rite of passage. ​ HOW IT WORKS It’s really easy to take part in a day out at the Fairy Tale Park! There are events all year round, with the park closed only during the winter months. Simply visit our website, check the calendar for the dates you’d like to book, and purchase your tickets – whether you’re coming as an individual or as part of a group. For individual families, we’ll organise the groups ourselves, providing the full daily schedule at least one day before the event, once bookings have closed. If you need to cancel your booking, simply let us know and we’ll send you a voucher for the value of your purchase, which can be used for a new booking of activities, or as credit to spend on purchases, gifts, or lunch at the Medieval Tavern. The voucher is valid for one year from the date of issue. ​ From mid-March to mid-November, with a short summer break in the second half of August, the Parco delle Fiabe is open EVERY SUNDAY AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, offering an incredible frequency of events for an experience that combines unique and valuable features: the presence of numerous actors along the route, all highly professional and possessing the necessary experience to make the journey unique, personalised and truly moving, for both children and adults a full day of activities, spread across three routes: the park, the adventure trail and a visit to the castle the quality of the historic setting: an ancient castle, perfectly preserved and still inhabited, which serves as the backdrop to all activities, imbuing every experience with its unmistakable and mysterious charm the beauty and rarity of the natural, botanical and geological landscape in which the castle stands the quality and care taken with the outdoor spaces, gardens, woodland and footpaths, including the numerous rose gardens that line the routes the provision of top-quality services, including accommodation: the Medieval Tavern and the Bistrot offer culinary experiences characterised by the quality of the dishes and service, the beauty of the dining rooms and gardens, and the sustainability and authenticity of the ingredients. the final shopping experience: our shop offers a selection of toys, logic games, books and branded items so you can take a little of the castle’s magic home with you! Our food and wine products will treat you to flavours and experiences that are truly authentic. ​ Some dates – those of the events – are even more special because they add further attractions, experiences or trails to the Parco delle Fiabe programme, which are included free of charge with a Parco delle Fiabe ticket, at no extra cost. To check the event dates, scroll down this page to the summary calendar. ​ The adventure Take centre stage in an epic battle, discovering the power of good! The battle is the highlight of the experience. Here, after exploring the woods and meeting the characters who live there – and even facing an attack by the Ogre – the children will be called upon to join the knight on a very important mission. They will become central to the story, but will also be called upon to put values into practice and explore concepts such as loyalty, understanding, respect for the rules and respect for others. The knights of the Fairy Tale Park are Positive Leaders, capable of inspiring, lightening the mood, welcoming and guiding as mentors and friends! They embody the hero that each of us encounters in fairy tales, with the doubts and frailties typical of human beings, yet willing to put themselves on the line to grow, facing dangers and fears – even inner ones – with courage and openness. Here, children learn that unity is strength, that when someone believes in you, you can achieve great things, and that sometimes behind an enemy lies someone in need of help and understanding. .. In short, a profound and educational experience, engaging and inspiring thanks to the beauty of the story, the races through the valley and the thrilling battles – a little scary and a little fun. ​ SCHOOLS AT THE FAIRY TALE PARK | NURSERY – PRIMARY – YEAR 7 ​ For educational institutions, the range of activities is set out in a multidisciplinary catalogue covering all seasons. The variety of topics covered — from medieval history to the Second World War (the defence of the oil wells), from Arthurian legends to the natural sciences — allows the castle to serve as a comprehensive educational extension of the school, suitable for all school levels. One factor that has encouraged teachers to return year after year is the safety of the park and the expertise of the activity leaders; these elements guarantee an active learning experience in a relaxed, natural setting that inspires their pupils and responds in a stimulating and innovative way to the Ministry’s requirements for engagement with historical, cultural, artistic and natural heritage. The Fairy-Tale Park at Gropparello Castle is the most wonderful experience for young children and early adolescents (aged 3–12) that you can offer your children, ensuring they have a vivid memory that will grow with them over the years. The sense of fulfilment they will feel, and the unique and exciting way in which they will engage with history and the castle, experiencing positive emotions – enthusiasm, curiosity, admiration, fascination, happiness, a sense of belonging and friendship – will leave them with the feeling of a special and privileged connection with the humanities, one that will also influence their future development. The strategic location of Gropparello Castle, in the province of Piacenza, makes it the ideal destination for day trips or longer stays (Gropparello is included in many networks of historical, archaeological and food-and-wine itineraries, as well as in the ‘Castles of the Duchy’ circuit) throughout northern Italy. The ‘Family Trend 2025’ findings confirm that families are becoming increasingly digitally savvy and discerning. The desire to travel, to enjoy seasonal experiences, to find excitement and inspiration in vibrant cultural settings, and to offer and share authentic, meaningful experiences with their children is fully satisfied in places such as Gropparello Castle. Here, the whole family – parents and children alike – can truly spend quality time together. Gropparello, with its blend of adventure and mystery, is perfect for satisfying this ‘say in the matter’ that children have. Furthermore, in line with the growing desire for ‘genuine family hotels’ and certified establishments, where children’s enjoyment is 100 per cent guaranteed, a stay in the tower with breakfast in the castle, murder mystery dinners, Halloween experiences and evening tours are truly perfect and extra-special experiences. Gropparello Castle | 9th–11th centuries A place frozen in time, connecting you to your dreams Gropparello Castle is an enchanting medieval fortress that captivates visitors with its ancient history, the unspoilt, primeval landscape surrounding it, and the architecture of the castle itself, which appears as an irregular stronghold, fused with the black volcanic rock. Every visit serves to emphasise this ‘wild and fairy-tale-like’ aspect, which sets Gropparello apart from the image of lowland castles, evoking a world more akin to the castles of Northern Europe or the Aosta Valley. The Vezzeno Gorges, with their watchtowers that descend to the Vezzeno stream before climbing back up along the steep rocks, form part of the trails that can be explored and offer a profound sense of relaxation, connection with nature and inner renewal. The source of the profound emotion that Gropparello Castle evokes in its visitors and loyal guests may also lie in another aspect, rather unusual for a castle: its status as an ‘inhabited residence’ and its deep connection with the current family. Unlike static museum-style venues, Gropparello benefits from being directly managed by the Gibelli family, who, since 1994, have transformed the castle into a centre for cultural and artistic production. This human dimension represents a unique strength: the owner, Gianfranco Gibelli, is not merely a manager, but an author and researcher who has succeeded in capturing the history and legends of the place – experiencing them first-hand as a family adventure – in literary narratives, endowing the brand with an intellectual depth rarely found in similar sites. Maria Rita Trecci Gibelli, his wife and lady of the castle, who is tirelessly committed to the care and enhancement of the castle through countless visionary projects, is also the brilliant founder of the Parco delle Fiabe. Together with their two daughters, Chiara and Francesca, and – over the years – supported by an ever-growing, skilled and passionate team that has developed over time, the Gibellis have succeeded in creating something incredible and truly innovative, believing wholeheartedly in their dreams. This is what we strive to teach at the Parco delle Fiabe, a project dedicated to the minds and hearts of children, who, at this very stage of their lives, are able to tap into the enormous potential for inner richness that will help them develop genius, creativity, resilience, strength, courage, self-confidence, a commitment to the common good and tenacity. In short, the Parco delle Fiabe is deeply committed to contributing to the happiness and rebirth of our global future.