Antica Corte delle Vacche Rosse

Luciano Catellani and brothers Matteo and Stefano Ilari manage the company near the Zanelli Agricultural Institute, steps away from Cvparr. Luciano, an advocate for the recovery of Vacche Rosse, has written the book “The Gold of the Red Cows” (1998, G. Arlotti). “Now,” he says, “the facts demonstrate all the good that is in this breed”.

We are in Coviolo which, like other villages close to the city, has a remarkable collection of villas, called “casini”, belonging to the main families of Reggio, almost all built in the 1700s-1800s (but there is no lack of older buildings). One stands out for its grandeur, not far away and towards the Apennines: Villa Levi, which is surrounded by a large garden. The large copper-covered dome dates back to 1830, but the villa’s layout dates back to the beginning of the nineteenth century, having refurbished a pre-existing seventeenth-century building. Since 1874 it had belonged to the famous Jewish Levi family, who gave it its name. They were benefactors of the city and restorers of the current Ariosto theatre. Now it is a University.