Castelli del Ducato in the Piacenza and Parma areas
3 minutes
Along the Via Emilia, an ancient route
This route follows the Via Emilia, specifically the section between the Parma and Piacenza areas, which was ruled by the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza between 1545 and 1859.
One of the oldest roads in the world, now known as Strada Statale 9, the Via Emilia is a source of pride for Emilia-Romagna, as well as being the origin of the region’s very name. A Roman road with an epic feel, in some sections it still retains its original cobblestone surface.
Many centuries of history are encapsulated here, from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, leaving behind a wealth of cultural and architectural heritage. In close proximity, there is a succession of castles, fortresses, strongholds and manor houses, all of which are extraordinary examples of the art of fortification. Along the route, the landscape transitions from the Lower Po Valley to the Emilian Apennines, offering a panorama of vineyard-covered hills, streams and verdant valleys. You can immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere and watch historical re-enactments in period costume.
The route is exciting for everyone, including children; there are educational and exploratory workshops for them, and even a magical Fairy Tale Park in Gropparello. To make your day truly enjoyable, be sure to plan a picnic on the grass, as well as stops at the castle taverns and markets. If you enjoy authentic restaurants, along this stretch of road, you will find many where you can sample the renowned cured meats, accompanied by local DOC wines.
The jewels of the Parma area waiting to be discovered
The first stop is the Palace of Colorno, a monumental complex with over 400 rooms, a multitude of courtyards, a square and a French garden. The River Parma flows around it, providing a picturesque backdrop. Don't miss a visit to the Chapel of San Liborio, adorned with fine paintings and the Serassi organ, the centrepiece of the Concert Season. A place of refined taste, in every sense. Indeed, some of the rooms in the Palazzo Ducale have become the home of ALMA – the International School of Italian Cuisine, one of the most renowned in the world, founded by chef Gualtiero Marchesi. The Astronomical Observatory is also open to the public.
Not far away, in Fontanellato, stands the Rocca Sanvitale, surrounded by a wide moat. Here, the true centrepiece is the small room painted by Parmigianino in 1542, depicting the myth of Diana and Actaeon. The Hall of Mirrors, where visitors are immersed in a play of reflections, attracts the most curious.
As you ascend from the plain, a must-see stop is the mediaeval Bardi Fortress, which overlooks the town of the same name in a verdant setting. The walk takes you along the ramparts, following the walkway, to the parade ground and then to the interior hall, the Museum of Peasant Civilisation and the underground ice house.
Still on the Apennine side, in the Upper Taro Valley, we find the village of Compiano and its castle: a magnificent manor house with three circular ‘Piacenza-style’ towers and a square tower that housed the prisons. The noble dynasties that have lived in Compiano Castle over the centuries have left traces of great beauty in its interiors: Venetian fans, Spanish and French carpets, and Limoges porcelain and candlesticks. Of particular note is the International Masonic Museum, the only one of its kind in Italy, which houses a collection of objects from Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry spanning the last 300 years.
Not to be missed in the Piacenza area
In Val Vezzeno, the first stop is Gropparello Castle. In the Hall of Musical Instruments, a 19th-century grand piano takes centre stage, the centrepiece of a collection that includes an 18th-century harp, Baroque flutes, bombardes and a mechanical harpsichord from Vienna.
This is the perfect place for children, who will be captivated by the Museo della Rosa Nascente, a veritable treasure trove of rose varieties and other plants, and even more so by the Parco delle Fiabe – Italy’s first Emotional Park, designed for the little ones. Encounters with knights, elves and witches along the paths, in the gardens and in the clearings of the centuries-old forest come as a delightful surprise.
The Rocca Viscontea, in the town of Castell’Arquato, was built between 1342 and 1349. At the heart of the entire red-brick structure is the 42-metre-high keep, which towers above the two outer walls and the secondary towers. Vigoleno is a perfect, and beautifully preserved, example of a fortified medieval village. Once impregnable, perched on a hill, it is now a splendid place to visit, with its crenellated walls. The castle so inspired Duchess Maria Ruspoli de Gramont that she decided to turn it into a literary salon; here, from 1921 to 1935, the noblewoman received illustrious guests, most notably the great poet Gabriele D’Annunzio.
