They are 104 in Emilia-Romagna, protected by a specific ministerial decree, the Italian Monumental Trees. Green patriarchs of the regions, the "guardians" of our past, oaks, beeches, larches, elms are now also protagonists of a contest launched in the summer of 2020 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, entitled "Rimettiamoci in cammino”. 

The thirteen winning works, out of over a hundred received, are now on proud display in the official calendar of the Italian Monumental Trees, published on the Mipaaf website.

For Emilia-Romagna, it was selected the "Quercia dei Cento rami" in Scandiano, province of Reggio Emilia, in a suggestive image by Carlo Mantovani.

Also known by the people of Reggio as the "big oak", the downy oak (Quercus pubescens) stands out alone at the top of a steep hill, surrounded by vineyards, and it is visible also from far away. To be precise, it is located in Rondinara and it is a signposted stage along the hiking trails dedicated to the cultural and naturalistic heritage of Val Tresinaro.

With a beautiful umbrella-shaped canopy, about twenty meters high, and a trunk perimeter of about 530 cm, the oak is over two hundred years old.

For those wishing to know more, there is an online data catalog on the most accessible Italian Monumental Trees, viewable on Google Maps. In this way it is possible to check the exact location of monumental trees on the territory and the related information.