Preistorica

A Neolithic village that comes back to life

There is a place, on the first hills of Val Trebbia, where time seems to have stopped six thousand years ago. It is the Archaeological Park of the Neolithic Village of Travo, in the Sant'Andrea area, in the Municipality of Travo in the province of Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna). Here stands one of the most important prehistoric sites in Italy, where excavations have revealed the traces of an ancient community that lived along the Trebbia River. Three Neolithic huts have been reconstructed on these remains, furnished with wooden objects, ceramic pots, and stone tools faithful to those found.

Once a year, with the event "Preistorica", the village stops being an open-air museum and transforms into a living laboratory. The archaeologists of ArcheoVea Impresa Culturale, who manage the park, wear Neolithic clothing and show the public the daily gestures of those who lived in these lands six thousand years ago.

What happens during the day

For the entire day, the entire village is enlivened by the activities practiced in the Neolithic period. It is not a simple visit, but an immersive experience of experimental archaeology where you can see everything up close and, often, try it with your own hands:

• Stone knapping: working flint to create blades and points
• Bow making and deer antler working
• Loom weaving with ancient techniques and materials
• Clay pot modeling
• Fire starting and food preparation using the hot stone method
• Cereal grinding and bread making

Alongside the demonstrations, archaeologists offer guided tours of the village and educational workshops designed especially for children, from simulated archaeological digs ("In the Shoes of an Archaeologist") to clay modeling, from prehistoric jewelry to archery.

An event for families in the heart of Val Trebbia

"Preistorica" is one of the park's most beloved events, managing to combine scientific rigor and a festive atmosphere. It is an ideal opportunity for families from Piacenza and the surrounding areas to spend a day outdoors, in a green and evocative corner of Val Trebbia, learning while having fun. The park is easily accessible from Travo and is immersed in nature along the river, in one of the most fascinating territories of the Piacenza Apennines.