The River Trebbia rises in the Ligurian mountains, some thirty kilometres from Genoa, and flows into the River Po after a course of approximately 110 kilometres, crossing the entire province of Piacenza.
Activities
Thanks to the purity of its waters, particularly in its upper reaches, it is crowded with bathers in summer. It is a renowned ‘training ground’ for canoeists from all over Europe. The upper part of the valley carved out by this river is characterised by high mountains with alpine features, surrounded by pastures and woods (chestnut, oak and pine forests, etc.). In the right season, there is no shortage of sought-after mushrooms.
Tributaries and Peaks
From its source to its mouth, the Trebbia receives numerous tributaries
- the most important of these is the Aveto, which rises on Mount Caucaso:
- followed by the Boreca, Brugneto, Cassingheno, Bobbio, Dorba and Perino streams.
Starting from its source near Mount Prelà (1,406 m) in the municipality of Torriglia, the Boreca stream – a tributary of the Trebbia – forms a small valley. The Val Boreca, covering 51 square kilometres, is the largest sub-basin in the Trebbia Valley, after that of the Aveto, which remains the most important tributary. Surrounded by mountains such as Lesima (1,724 m), Alfeo (1,650 m), Tartago (1,688 m), Chiappo (1,699 m), Cavalmurone (1,670 m) and Carmo (1,640 m), this valley is rugged and covered in woodland.
The upper Trebbia Valley
Zerba is home to numerous species typical of alpine flora, which grow undisturbed in a natural, unspoilt habitat. The River Trebbia enters our province in the municipality of Ottone, where it flows in numerous meanders, its waters swelled by those of the Aveto stream. These two rivers split again near Monte delle Tane, on whose slopes, in a wooded valley, lies the small village of Cerignale. The village is characterised not so much by specific historical features as by the natural beauty of the Apennines, with its woods, peaks and footpaths. Trebbia river then flows past the village of Marsaglia, the administrative centre of the municipality of Corte Brugnatella.
The bends
Beyond this settlement, the valley narrows once more. From the heights of the village of Brugnello, the river forms another series of gorges and meanders within the so-called Arenarie di San Salvatore. These are formations composed of alternating layers of sandstone, siltstone and clay, originating from submarine sedimentation. After receiving the left-bank tributary, the Carlone, the Trebbia enters the municipal territory of Bobbio. This is one of the most picturesque and historically rich spots in the entire valley, as the river flows beneath the arches of the famous Ponte Gobbo.
As it flows further downstream, the river turns north-east, gradually widening and forming extensive gravel banks. Along this stretch, it flows through the villages of Mezzano Scotti, Perino and Coli. Here, the river forms wide bends; the Orrido di Barberino is particularly famous.
The River Trebbia and the park area
After passing through the village of Travo, the river reaches Rivergaro, home to the Trebbia Regional Park, which overlooks the river directly. From here, there is a beautiful view of the hills and Statto Castle, situated directly opposite on the far bank of the Trebbia. This vast area forms part of the Parchi del Ducato network and is equipped with refreshment points and benches. Not far away, in La Rossia – a small hamlet of Gossolengo – lies one of the entrances to the park of the same name: a vast green space, two quarry lakes restored to nature, and an educational centre for educational activities and cultural initiatives.
The river in the flatlands
Near Gragnano Trebbiense, the river takes on the typical appearance of an alluvial fan, which forms when the river reaches the valley, slows its flow and deposits a considerable amount of lithoid material (pebbles, gravel, etc.), causing its riverbed to fan out.
The landscape is characterised by gravelly areas and clearings with shrubs and a few tall trees. Although not particularly rich in terms of nutrients, it is home to a fascinating array of wildlife. This consists mainly of birds, the majority of which are migratory: the Little Ringed Plover, the Stone Curlew, the Water Pipit, the Bee-eater, and several species of heron. Near the river, there is a designated rest area and a birdwatching tower. The riverbank is covered in sparse vegetation comprising black poplars, patches of shrubby willows and sea buckthorn, tufts of grasses and reddish patches of lichen. With a pair of binoculars from the tower, you can spot migrating herons and cormorants and, with a bit of luck, the camouflaged nightjar hidden on the ground amongst the tall grasses and shrubs.
To top it all off, and immediately apparent, is a spectacular landscape that is hard to match among other watercourses in our country.