The castles were defensive outposts in a first line of defence for Canossa against attack coming from the direction of Lombardy or the alpine passes. Over the centuries Bianello was both stronghold and home to the Canossa family until the mid-18th century when it became a noble residence. The castle is a compact building, its outer walls built to a polygonal plan. A stone tablet at the entrance to the castle walls bears the inscription: "Comitissae Matildis opus", but the castle, and the other three, are in fact of earlier construction. The origins of the castle as a lookout tower can be traced back to the 10th century. Matilda herself resided almost habitually at Bianello and it was here that she hosted a penitent Henry V before the historic meeting of 1077. Popes and princes were guests at Bianello and in 1111 Matilda received Henry V after his coronation in Rome and was herself proclaimed by him Imperial Vicar in Italy. These were the beginnings of the peace established at the Concorde of Worms ten years later. After the death of Matilda the castle remained in the Canossa family. The castle then underwent numerous transformations which changed it into a noble residence, but it still conserves some interesting elements of the original stronghold and in one of the rooms a painting of the 14th century depicting Matilda holding a pomegranate flower and the words "tuetur et unit". From the castle there is an exceptional panorama of one of the most fertile valleys in the world.

Matilda's residence and Henry V's visits are commemorated in a celebration of the events which has been repeated annually for the last twenty years, and which has seen the creation of the "Matilda Prize".  At the foot of the hill is a church, restored several times over the years, which conserves an interesting carved lunette, an architrave decorated with floral patterns and a hand raised in blessing, and several stone fragments decorated with the simple, refined art typical of buildings, especially religious buildings, of that time.

https://turismo.comune.re.it

Bianello Castle

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The Castle of Canossa is a castle in Canossa, province of Reggio Emilia, northern Italy.

It is especially known as the seat of the Walk to Canossa, the meeting of Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy (1077).

History
The castle was built around 940 by Adalberto Atto, son of Sigifredo of Lucca, a Lombard prince, on the summit of a rocky hill. Apart from Adalberto's residence, it included a convent with 12 Benedictine monks and the church of Sant'Apollonio. It was protected by a triple line of walls; between the two lower lines were the barracks and the residence of the servants.

During the Middle Ages, it was one of the most impregnable castles in Italy. Here in 950 Adelaide of Italy, the widow of King Lothair II, took refuge; Berengar II of Ivrea besieged her for three years, but in vain.

The next most relevant episode is the famous reconciliation between Henry IV and Gregory VII, who was a friend of Matilda of Tuscany, who had inherited the castle, the centre of an impressive chain of watch towers and castles. Matilda established that her lands would be assigned to the Church after her death (1115), but her heirs did not accept it.

In 1255 the men of Reggio destroyed the castle and the church. Later it was returned to the Canossa family. After the death of Giberto da Correggio in 1321, it was again a possession of Reggio until 1402, when Simone, Guido and Alberto Canossa gained it back; in 1409, however, they ceded it to the House of Este, who (apart a short period under Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma in 1557) held it until 1796.

In 1502 Ercole I d'Este named the poet Ludovico Ariosto castellan. He resided here for six months. In 1593 Canossa was assigned as fief to the Counts Rondinelli. In 1642 Duke Francesco I entrusted it to the Valentini. The latter were ousted in 1796 by the rebellious local population, who joined the Republic of Reggio.

After being returned to the Valentini, in 1878 the Castle was acquired by the Italian State, and was declared a national monument.

Canossa Castle

Il castello di Rossena si trova nel comune di Canossa in provincia di Reggio Emilia, nell'Appennino reggiano.
Storia
Il castello di Rossena nasce come fortezza militare posta a difesa del castello di Canossa, sito nelle immediate vicinanze, con lo scopo di arrestare eventuali aggressioni nemiche provenienti dalla valle dell'Enza. La costruzione, probabilmente iniziata intorno al 950, si origina a partire da una struttura preesistente, che costituisce il mastio. Essa era paragonabile per tipologia alla vicina torre di Rossenella. Si organizza su tre livelli ed è caratterizzato tre cinta murarie.

Inizialmente di proprietà della famiglia Canossa, passa in mano alla famiglia Da Correggio fino al 1612, quando il ducato di Parma ne entra in possesso.

Nel 2000 ha subito un restauro che ha permesso anche l'utilizzo della struttura per scopi ricettivi.



Castello di Rossena

Castello di Montechiarugolo History
Located on the left bank of the Enza stream, the Castle of Montechiarugolo is located in a strategic position, on the border between the territories of Parma and Reggio Emilia, resting on a natural embankment from which the toponym of its name derives.

The current architectural structure shows the fifteenth-century mark given to it by Guido Torelli - leader of the Visconti family - and is built on the remains of an ancient thirteenth-century nucleus that was destroyed in 1313. During the 16th century, the castle hosted the stays of illustrious personalities as Pope Paul III and the king of France Francis I of Valois, Pomponio Torelli from further luster to the castle calling numerous artists and painters of the time.

With the death of his son Pio, the Torelli lordship ended and the fortress was conquered by the Ducal Chamber. In 1867 the Italian State sold the manor to Antonio Marchi and the descendants are still its owners.

A long paved road is a walkway flanked by walls with windows and Ghibelline battlements; inside there is a large hall frescoed by Baglione with heraldic coats of arms of the Torelli family: a loggia overlooks the wide panorama of Val d'Enza and a bedroom is derived from what was probably the famous library of Count Pomponio. Characteristic is the contrast between the patrician elegance of these halls and the austere aspect of the external walls, which welcomes the visitor in a perfectly Renaissance atmosphere.

Outside we find the central courtyard with its portico of terracotta columns which leads to the small courtyard of the well and the square tower.

From the central courtyard you can access the Castellazzo, a magnificent garden connected by a terracotta bridge, replacing the original drawbridge; magical place and suitable for recollection, during the spring period there is a splendid flowering of roses and peonies.

The spaciousness of the spaces and the opportunity to use the magnificent courtyards allows you to use the castle for the organization of the most varied ceremonies, with a number of guests who can arrive for up to 200 people inside and between inside and outside 300.

https://www.histouring.com

Castello di Montechiarugolo 

Il castello di Montecchio è stato un edificio difensivo sito a Montecchio Emilia, in provincia di Reggio Emilia.
Storia
In un documento del 1114, firmato da Matilde di Canossa, vi è il primo riferimento al castello che, data la sua posizione strategica, a ridosso del corso dell'Enza, svolgeva un'importante funzione nel sistema difensivo pedecollinare progettato dai Canossa.

Nel XIII secolo fu occupato dal comune di Parma che però dovette combattere a lungo le signorie ed i vescovati vicini per manterlo. Nel 1247 la ghibellina Parma cadde nelle mani dei guelfi, ma Montecchio rimase fedele all'imperatore. Assunsero quindi il comando del castello i Vicedomini, che ne mantennero il possesso fino al 1348. Nel 1317 Giberto III da Correggio lo distrusse e lo smantellò e nel 1348 Obizzo III d'Este lo cedette ai Visconti, che ne cacciarono i precedenti feudatari e v'imposero un loro vicario, fortificandolo ulteriormente.

Nel 1426 la rocca venne restaurata per mano di Agnolo della Pergola. Tra il 1440 ed il 1455 subì diversi interventi, così come sotto le successive dominazioni di Guido Torelli e degli Estensi, che nel 1486 occuparono definitivamente Montecchio.

Dal 1638 nel castello si insediò Luigi I d'Este, con il titolo di marchese di Montecchio. Sotto di lui la fortezza divenne oggetto di numerosi interventi, come la chiusura delle Fosse della Rocchetta, che cingevano il perimetro della struttura (1649)[1].

Tra il 1813 ed il 1823 vennero edificati i portici, sul lato rivolto verso la piazza.

Descrizione
Il castello delimita, dal lato ovest, il centro storico di Montecchio. Presenta una pianta quadriltera irregolare, frutto delle riparazioni che si sono susseguite nel corso dei secoli. La parte più antica, ossia quella dell'orologio, risale al periodo matildico. Entrambe le torri sono dotate di copertura e di un giro completo di merlatura.

Castello di Montecchio Emilia

The name Monticelli has historic origins. The name stems "... dal suo sito amenissimo che è un piccolo monticello in mezzo a vasta pianura" ("... from its heavenly site that is a small hill in the middle of a large valley" – from Annibale Mariotti, manuscript n.1423, Biblioteca Comunale Augusta of Perugia, 18th century).

Castello Monticelli is located at the top of a small, prominent hill in the middle of a large valley.  From the hilltop plateau there is a wonderful view for many kilometers in all directions. The city of Perugia, of Etruscan origin and the capital of the region of Umbria, is clearly visible from the castle and the surrounding gardens. At least 15 other hamlets and listed buildings are also visible at a distance. This made Monticelli an ideal location for a fortification in the advance defence system of the city.

Two of the towers of Monticelli were built by the Eastern Roman Empire in the year 593 AD as part of the advance defence system of the city of Perugia against the Longobards. The “Byzantine Corridor” was a narrow strip of land linking Rome to Ravenna from 570 to 774 and its border west of Perugia was 40 meters from the towers. Two of the 4 existing towers have walls that are 1.5 meters thick. The thickness of walls often suggests something about their function and their age. The official name of Monticelli for the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs is “Castle or Antique Nucleus of Monticelli”, thus reminding us that in origin it was a fortress.

In Monticelli there is another, albeit indirect, sign of antiquity. In 1315-19 the Benedictines commissioned a fresco of Costanzo, the first bishop of Perugia, for the church of Saint Paolo in Monticelli. Costanzo, who is canonized but not declared a saint, is said to have been hiding for many days at Monticelli during a persecution of the Christians in 174 AD (Cardinal Ceasar Baronio, The Life of Saints, 16th century). The fact that the Benedectines of the Monastery of Saint Pietro in Perugia asked the painter Meo da Siena to depict also Costanzo, all in all a very minor figure compared to the nine others, is an indication that they remembered that he had been hiding at Monticelli almost 1150 years before.

In the 11th century the Benedictines of the Monastery of Saint Pietro in Perugia transformed the military structure into a fortified agricultural dependence of the monastery. Monticelli remained a Benedictine monastery for 500 years. In about 1470 Monticelli was sold to an aristocratic family which built a palace by filling the 5 meter space which separated two adjacent military towers and started using it as a summer and hunting residence.

The oldest still existing official document mentioning Monticelli dates from the year 1115, when pope Pasquale II (1099-1118) issued a papal bull stating that the church of Monticelli belonged to the important and powerful Benedectine Monastery of Saint Pietro in Perugia. Pasquale II is also remembered for having nominated in 1112, well before the discovery of America by Columbus, the first bishop of the American continent. The name of the bishop is Henricus, a Scandinavian which the pope nominated bishop of Groenland and Newfoundland, a peninsula of Canada.

Monticelli became a prison holding Austrian soldiers during World War I (1914-18). During WW II it again became a prison. From the autumn of 1942 to September 8th 1943 about 110 Yugoslav prisoners were held in it, mostly coming from Slovenia and Montenegro. As a result of war destruction, decades of neglect and the progressive deterioration of the buildings, Monticelli then became a simple farm, home for about 150 peasants and their families, storage for agricultural products, mainly wine and tobacco, and staples for pigs and cows. However, by the 1980’s it had become an abandoned ruin.

Thus Castello Monticelli changed its function more than six times in the course of its long history: it was a military structure from about 593 to 774, a Benedictine Monastery from the 11th century to 1470, a summer and hunting residence of aristocratic families until about World War I, a prison during the two World Wars, a farm from 1945 to about 1980 and a vacation resort from 2005 onwards. The towers and the surrounding annex buildings are to be preserved as monuments of national historic and artistic interest. The property is under the protection of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the buildings are "listed" as part of the "Italian National Endowment".

http://www.castellomonticelli.com

Castello di Monticelli

La Sala del Tricolore è la sala consiliare del comune di Reggio nell'Emilia, città capoluogo dell'omonima provincia, in Emilia-Romagna. Si trova all'interno del municipio della città emiliana. Qui, il 7 gennaio 1797, nacque la bandiera nazionale italiana, da cui il nome del salone. Adiacente alla sala è situato il Museo del tricolore. Fa parte del circuito Associazione dei Castelli del Ducato di Parma, Piacenza e Pontremoli.
Le origini di questo salone risalgono al 1768, quando il duca di Modena e Reggio Francesco III d'Este decise di far realizzare un archivio statale centrale che avrebbe dovuto conservare tutti i documenti del ducato emiliano. La scelta dell'architetto a cui affidare la redazione del progetto e la costruzione del nuovo salone cadde su Lodovico Bolognini, che realizzò poi l'opera dal 1772 al 1785.
Durante i lavori di costruzione Giovanni Benassi, falegname di corte, sempre sotto la supervisione del Bolognini, costruì dal 1773 al 1774 un modello in legno del salone a cui mancavano, rispetto alla versione moderna, le balconate: al loro posto vennero previste le scaffalature per la conservazione dei documenti, a cui si accedeva tramite dei rampari in legno.

Poco dopo la fine dei lavori si decise di non destinarla ad archivio: la grande quantità di documenti in essa contenuti avrebbe potuto causare un vasto incendio, con tutte le conseguenze del caso Per decidere la destinazione d'uso della sala, scartata quella d'archivio ducale, venne istituita una commissione. Questa consulta propose, tra l'altro, anche il suo frazionamento in più locali da adibire ad uffici ma il duca si oppose rimandando la sua decisione.

Sala del Tricolore di Reggio Emilia

The architectural complex, which covers an area of 5000 square metres, has been rebuilt numerous times through its history. Originally erected in 1315 as a defensive stronghold by the Da Fogliano family, it was transformed into the noble residence of the Boiardo family (1423-1560) and later became the Renaissance palazzo of the Marquis Thiene (1565-1623) and the princes of Este (1625-1726).

The complex comprises coexisting structures from the Middle Ages (postern tower at the north entrance and the arches of the courtyard), the Renaissance (portico of the courtyard), and the Baroque period (staircase, two-light mullioned windows, architraves of the courtyard, stucco decorations in the Estense apartment). The entire history of Scandiano and its people took place around the castle. The poet Matteo Maria Boiardo was born in a room on the first floor; in the basement rooms the great scientist Lazzaro Spallanzani was known to conduct his experiments. Illustrious guests at the castle included the poet Francesco Petrarca, the reformer Giovanni Calvino, and Pope Paul III. Here on 10th October 1796, freedom and Napoleon were extolled, and Scandiano joined the Cispadane Republic. Once again inside the castle, the plebiscite was held on 11th March 18?0 which sanctioned the admission of Scandiano to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Up to the 18th century, the castle held an important cycle of frescoes by the painter Nicolò dell’Abate, which are now conserved at the Galleria Estense in Modena. Many artists worked in the castle, including Bartolomeo Spani, Giovan Battista Aleotti, and Antonio Traeri.
The grand staircase of the castle was conceived in its original configuration by Giovan Battista Aleotti in the early 1600s. The pincer-like staircase was added some years later and was probably commissioned by the Bentivoglio family. The terracotta statues probably depict distinguished members of the Thiene family and were created in 1619 by the Genoese sculptor Giova Battista Pontelli. The four surviving statues among the many created by Aleotti (including an equestrian one) probably depict, starting from the top of the staircase and proceeding anti-clockwise: Marcantonio, Ottavio I, Giulio, and Ottavio II Thiene. The latter statue (the most successful one) shows affinities with Classical statuary. It is not to be excluded that the stylistic archetypes of the other three warriors with their “monstrous armour” and demigod posture can also be found in Classical statuary.

https://turismo.comune.re.it

Boiardo Fortress


The castle of Torrechiara stands on the hills for centuries cultivated with vineyards of the homonymous village, near Langhirano, in a strategic position that allows you to perfectly dominate the entire valley below where the river Parma flows.

Built between 1448 and 1460 by the count of San Secondo, Pier Maria de 'Rossi II, it had to have both a defensive function controlling the plains he accesses from Liguria and Tuscany, both to act as a noble residence for him and his beloved Bianca Pellegrini from Arluno. The building that shows strong influence of the Sforza-Visconti castles, thus blends defensive and residential structures.

The complex, composed of the manor and the ancient village, is built on a walled platform placed on a terraced hill and is bordered by a double moat with drawbridges; Although subject to various restorations and enlargements, it retains the imposing bulk of the late Middle Ages, with its square-shaped towers connected to each other by a double wall with Ghibelline battlements.

The interior of the castle is richly decorated with frescoed rooms, mainly with fantastic, naturalistic and grotesque themes and the names of the rooms recall the main theme of the fresco.

The most famous of the rooms is undoubtedly the splendid Camera d'Oro, frescoed by the painter Benedetto Bembo, considered one of the highest artistic expressions of international Gothic present in Italy: the room celebrates the triumph of the love of the two young gentlemen of the place, but also mythological and historical figures with which Pier Maria shared virtues and values: Hercules and Samson, symbols of physical strength, and Terence and Virgil symbols of intellect and culture.

The castle is home to numerous events and festive shows, including the Torrechiara Festival and is often used, for its excellent conservation and unique atmosphere, as a movie set of films such as Ladyharke by Richar Donner.

The restaurant "Taverna del Castello" in the manor, has a structure that can accommodate 120 guests inside and as many outside in the summer garden, surrounded by beautiful scenery that runs along the walls of the castle. Renowned for its quality - present in the most prestigious guides in the industry, from Veronelli to Michelin - has for decades been a destination for tourists and loyal customers looking for a restaurant divorced from the stress of the city and a cuisine that combines the Parmesan tradition with gastronomic novelties .


Castello di Torrechiara

Il castello di Arceto è un edificio che domina il centro storico dell'abitato di Arceto, frazione Scandiano, in provincia di Reggio Emilia.
Storia e descrizione
Tipico castello medioevale del quale sono ancora visibili i percorsi dei fossati e delle mura.

Attestato già alla fine del IX secolo, l'edificio venne consegnato ai vescovi di Reggio dall'imperatore Ottone I di Sassonia nel 962. Dopo essere appartenuto per anni alla famiglia Da Fogliano, Arceto venne ad essi strappato dagli Estensi e nel 1414 consegnato ai Boiardo, che provvidero a importanti interventi sugli edifici.

Nel 1474, dopo vari contrasti tra i due feudatari Matteo Maria Boiardo e Giovanni Boiardo, il territorio della Contea di Scandiano venne diviso: a Matteo Maria andarono i territori di Scandiano, Gesso, Torricella e Sabbione, mentre il cugino Giovanni prendeva Arceto, Casalgrande, Dinazzano, Salvaterra e Montebabbio. L’investitura per Giovanni Boiardo di detti territori fu confermata dalla Camera Ducale Estense una prima volta nel 1475 e successivamente nel 1490.

Nel 1499, alla morte del conte Camillo Boiardo, figlio di Matteo Maria Boiardo, successore di questi come feudatario di Scandiano, il territorio diviso nel 1474 si riunì nuovamente sotto il controllo di Giovanni Boiardo.

Nel 1565 il castello divenne di proprietà Ottavio I Thiene, marito di Laura Boiardo, figlia ed erede del penultimo feudatario Giulio Boiardo. La nobile famiglia dei conti Thiene, durante la sua amministrazione del feudo (1565-1622), fece costruire all'interno del castello l'oratorio dedicato a San Rocco e la rocca.

Il castello, tra il 1622 ed il 1634 passò sotto il controllo diretto di Casa d'Este, per poi passare ai Bentivoglio e successivamente nel 1643 al ramo cadetto degli Este di Scandiano.

Nel 1740 il marchese Giovanni Battista De Mari restaurò la rocca, apportando importanti modifiche e aggiungendo degli edifici laterali. È del 1751 la realizzazione di un grande scalone interno ornato di cinque statue in terracotta.

Nel 1777 il castello passò a Livia De Mari (figlia di Giovanni Battista), sposata con il marchese Andrea Spinola della nobile famiglia genovese degli Spinola di San Luca, marchesi di San Donnino di Liguria, Arceto e Corticella. Nobili dei marchesi di Lerma.

Nel 1796 il castello di Arceto verrà tolto agli Spinola, in seguito all'abolizioni dei feudi.

Nel 1811 per decreto napoleonico il castello tornerà in possesso degli Spinola, che lo rivenderanno successivamente al banchiere Parodi; quest'ultimo lo rivenderà a sua volta a Flaminio Regnani.

Attualmente il Comune di Scandiano è proprietario di parte del castello e del piano nobile.

Castello di Arceto

Situated on the Antognano mountain (m 805 above sea level), the castle overlooks the valleys of the rivers Secchia and Tresinaro. The building of the first fortified defensive garrison dates back to X century and was made by Atto Adalberto di Canossa, an ancestor of Matilde di Canossa. It was in fact during the reign of this very resourceful countess that the castle reached the highest point in its history: the countess enriched the castle building adding to the complex the romanic church of Sant’Andrea, sanctified in 1077 and still well preserved.
The Castello delle Carpinete was the core of the cristian world during the age of the fights for power over Europe between Popedom and Empire, and in 1092 it hosted the convention of Carpineti, a very important event in the history of the conflict between Popedom and Emperor Henry IV.
The castle has the structure of a castle-enclosure, and the first wall belt was originally included borough and church.
Inside this first belt there was another wall belt defending the fortified core of the complex, smaller and higher.
In this very last defensive stronghold were the most important military and residential buildings: the mastio – a tower shaped fortress – and the water tanks.
The square tower has four different levels, still recognizable by the signs on the walls.
The top of the fortress and its absolutely stunning view can today be reached by an external staircase.
It is still possible to see the cemetery of the castle borough, that dates back to XVI century.

https://www.comune.carpineti.re.it