Overview
San Pietro in Cerro: within the walls of the splendid 15th-century castle
On the road to Cremona, just off the Fiorenzuola d'Arda motorway exit, in the province of Piacenza, is the Castle of San Pietro in Cerro, an unmissable destination in Emilia Romagna.
The best time to visit is undoubtedly spring, when events and exhibitions make the experience even more impressive. You can explore the entire building by booking a guided tour that takes an hour and fifteen minutes.
The castle
The main attraction of the complex is the ancient residence of the Barattieri counts, which has been carefully maintained and preserved over the years and remains a faithful example of a 15th-century castle.
At first glance, the building's exterior looks like a compact and cold fortress, but the interior leaves all visitors speechless thanks to its understated, elegant style. The most interesting rooms are the two Halls of Honour, the Hall of Arms and the Library, which boasts a collection of around 2,000 volumes dating back to the birth of printing itself.
A real gem is found in the dungeons of the Castle of San Pietro, which is home to more than 40 terracotta statues of the Warriors of Xian. These faithful reproductions authenticated by the Beijing Museum of Natural History were made in a batch of ninety statues commissioned by the Chinese government.
The unmissable MIM - Museum in Motion
Following renovations in 2001, an art museum was set up in the attic of the Castle, which traces the ancient patrol route between the two towers.
There are more than 1,600 works on display, mainly by contemporary artists, part of which is dedicated to artists from Piacenza.
The museum continuously rotates the works it displays, which vary between paintings, sculptures and photographs.
A two-day tour of San Pietro
Once you have finished exploring the Castle, we recommend taking time for a walk. A few kilometres away, in the heart of the village, you can admire the Church of San Pietro, built in 1522 and adorned with paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.
If you’re looking for an even more immersive experience and to fully enjoy the beauty of the area, you can stay in the luxurious rooms of the Locanda del Re Guerriero, an art hotel created during the renovation of the Castle's former stables within the property's gardens.
The hotel is eco-friendly, and all the food served during breakfast and tastings follow the philosophy of zero food miles.
Around the building, you can go horse riding or cycling, to enjoy the landscape in harmony with nature.
