Albinea is a town in the province of Reggio Emilia, set on the first hills of Reggio Emilia, on the right bank of the river Crostolo. Many archaeological finds, dating back to the Prehistoric period (especially hunting and working tools) reveal that the area was inhabited since the ancient times. Remains of Roman villas, with frescoes and mosaics, along the ancient Via Claudia, are interesting too. Although the village was mentioned for the first time in 1057, in a bull of Pope Stephen IX, the Pieve Church of San Prospero was already mentioned by Otto II, in a document of 980. It was under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Reggio until 1412, when it passed under the control of Giovanni Manfredi, whose family run the fief until 1730.
Attractions:
- the Mussina cave, a karst cave with prehistoric artifacts;
- the Albinea castle, today owned by the Azienda Borromeo di Ravenna, was built by the Fogliani family; it was residence of the bishop of Reggio Emilia, before moving to the Manfredi family.
- the Borzano castle, an imposing structure perched on a rocky spur, built by the Manfredi family in the XII century. Anthropomorphic graves were found behind the apse of the Church of San Giovanni;
- the Montericco castle, built in the XIII century by the Fogliani family;
- Albinea's Pieve Church, dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady and St. Prospero, of early-romanesque origins, was mentioned for the first time in a Otto II's document of 980. The actual appearance is the result of a reconstruction of 1671;
- the Church of Beata Vergine Maria, built in the last years of the XVI century, moving there the seat of the parish located, until that moment, at the Church of San Giovanni;
- the Sanctuary of Beata Vergine di Lourdes;
- the XVI century tower-houses;
- the numerous villas, built by the noble local families: they are a perfect example summer residences surrounded by Reggio countryside (Villa Arnò, Villa Tacoli, Villa Tarabini, Villa Crocioni, Villa Sidoli).