It is considered the ‘little jewel’ of Carpi, wrapped in an almost suspended atmosphere and with a ‘holiday’ flavour, due to the quiet, tranquility, greenery and beautiful homes surrounded by the garden. The hamlet of Santa Croce is located south of the town of Carpi from which it is three kilometers away. Like a sort of ‘appendage’ in a beautiful, well-kept countryside of what is the city centre. When, in 1450, it was separated from the hamlet of Gargallo, it took the name of its parish church, the church of the Invention of the Holy Cross, or simply the church of Santa Croce, very popular and well-known as the chapel on the left is the diocesan sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna dell’Aiuto. As the ‘entry door’ to the hamlet, there is the large Santacroce Park of the Cassa di Risparmio di Carpi Foundation: an authentic green lung close to the urban centre, which rises between Via Mulini, Bersana and Traversa San Giorgio, covering 26 hectares , in which massive forestation was created to provide it with over 10 thousand plants, and enhance its biodiversity, ancient and endangered species.
Park that will open to citizens once the Traversa San Giorgio underpass is built. In the ‘old’ part of the hamlet, just before the church, there is a historic restaurant: the Santa Croce restaurant, founded in 1968 and now in the third generation of the Bortolotti family. “It was grandfather Vincenzo who opened the business, together with grandmother Gilberta – the brothers Massimo and Giulio Bortolotti say from behind the cold cuts counter –. With the arrival of our father, Natalino ‘Angelo’, we moved on to the trattoria In 2019, dad passed away and we took over the management, with mom Antonella lending us a hand.” “We carry on our grandfather’s philosophy, offering typical dishes of the Modena culinary tradition all prepared at home. In 1968, our Bortolotti family moved from the Modena Apennines to Carpi, bringing with them not only the good-natured nature of the mountain people but also the ancient recipes, first of all the one for tigelle (or crescentine). And this is what we want to pass on to people”. Moving through the tree-lined streets made magical by the scent of the lime tree, you arrive in the ‘new’ part of Santa Croce. For eight years Stefano Caffagni and his wife Cristina have been serving coffee and smiles at the ‘Bar 3 Bacco e Tabacco’: “Every morning from 4.30 we are there – explains Caffagni – to guarantee quick breakfasts and lunches. We are on a passing road for who goes to work, so we always have a lot of customers coming and going every morning. It’s great here: we live in Correggio where we bought a house, otherwise we would happily move here. Even if… the prices of the properties are sky-high, as they are houses very beautiful and surrounded by greenery”. “In Santa Croce people live really well – continues Marzia Bitassi –. What do I like about this hamlet? The people, the greenery, appreciated by everyone and especially by those who have animals and then the tranquility”.
Even from the point of view of safety, residents and shopkeepers are happy: “Here the Neighborhood Control is very active – underlines Marzia – there is excellent collaboration between everyone, and then we get together and lend a hand. That of the Neighborhood Control is proving to be an excellent deterrent and makes us feel safer. Of course, some services are missing such as the newsagent and the bakery which have closed and a small market where you can get essential things without having to travel by car. Luckily we have a bar of Stefano and Cristina who are authentic points of reference!”.
Another catalytic place of the hamlet is the Arcobaleno social club: “Every day we offer something for our members – says Fiorenza Giliberti – who willingly come all year round. This is a meeting point, you play cards, read the newspapers , we socialize. It’s very nice. Then every Thursday we cook gnocco and tigelle and on Sundays pizza, we have a lot of takeaways, obviously they’re good!”. Furthermore, cappelletti and lasagna for members, dance evenings, Argentine tango, and many public meetings, “surrounded by a beautiful green park that families, children and others like so much”.
Near the club there is a special space for the ‘Compagnia del Coltello’, which carries out its activities in a space in the community centre. “We have been here for about a year – says one of the members Nicola Dentamaro –. In total we are about twenty members, I am perhaps the one who frequents this place the most: I live in Rubiera and as soon as I have a free moment I come here, even in winter “.
Between knives, axes and double-blades (Axe with double cutting edge and median hole for the handle), Nicola explains the different techniques to use based on the shooting distance, between vehicles that rotate and others that are more static in throwing. There is always more to learn.
