Highlights
Don't miss
Step into the Camera d'Oro, frescoed by Bembo in 1463: the cycle of the love between Pier Maria and Bianca Pellegrini is one of the masterpieces of late-Gothic painting in the Po Valley.
Admire the chapel of San Nicomede, the 16th-century frescoes by Cesare Baglione and the noble apartments with monumental fireplaces.
Look out from the panoramic walkways: the view embraces the village of Torrechiara, the hills of Langhirano amid vineyards and prosciutto producers, all the way to the Apennines and the river Po.
The 15th-century origins and Pier Maria II de' Rossi
Construction of the Castle of Torrechiara began in 1448 at the wish of Count Pier Maria II de' Rossi, lord of San Secondo and a condottiero in the service of the Visconti and the Sforza.
Work continued until 1460, as recorded by a Latin inscription still visible on the eastern tower.
The castle was conceived as a fortress-residence with a dual role: a military stronghold to control the Parma valley and the route into the Apennines, and at the same time a sentimental refuge for secret meetings with Bianca Pellegrini, the count's avowed lover.
The Camera d'Oro and the frescoes by Bembo
The artistic heart of the castle is the Camera d'Oro, Pier Maria's private bedchamber frescoed between 1462 and 1463 by the Cremonese painter Benedetto Bembo.
The name derives from the gold-leaf decorations that covered terracotta panels depicting courtly scenes.
On the walls, a cycle of frescoes recounts the love of Pier Maria and Bianca Pellegrini: Bianca, in pilgrim's garb, visits the castles of the Rossi fief in search of her beloved, while putti, heraldic devices and amorous symbols weave a refined and personal iconographic language.
The castle today: visits, events and cinema
Since 1911 the Castle of Torrechiara has been a national monument, and since 1954 it has been the property of the Ministry of Culture.
It is open to the public year-round with self-guided or guided visits and is part of the Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza circuit.
The fortress has inspired filmmakers and writers: it has been the location of films such as Richard Donner's Ladyhawke (1985), as well as numerous Italian productions set in the medieval period.
History and architecture of the Castle of Torrechiara
The Castle of Torrechiara is one of the masterpieces of fifteenth-century military architecture in northern Italy. Built between 1448 and 1460 by the will of Count Pier Maria II de' Rossi, lord of San Secondo and condottiere in the service of the Visconti and the Sforza, the fortress dominates the Parma valley from a hill in the municipality of Langhirano. Conceived as a fortress-residence with a twofold role, military garrison and sentimental refuge, the castle is one of the best-preserved in Italy. Its quadrangular plan, the three concentric ring walls and the four corner towers make it a paradigmatic example of fifteenth-century defensive architecture. Today owned by the Italian State and managed by the Regional Directorate of Museums of Emilia-Romagna, the castle welcomes visitors all year round and is part of the Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza circuit.
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Fifteenth-century origins and Pier Maria II de' Rossi
Construction of the Castle of Torrechiara began in 1448 by the will of Count Pier Maria II de' Rossi, lord of San Secondo and condottiere in the service of the Visconti and the Sforza. The works went on until 1460, as a Latin inscription still visible on the eastern keep attests. The castle was conceived as a fortress-residence with a twofold role: a military garrison to control the Parma valley and the route to the Apennines, and at the same time a sentimental refuge for the secret meetings with Bianca Pellegrini, the count's declared lover. The quadrangular plan, the three concentric ring walls and the four corner towers make it a paradigmatic example of fifteenth-century defensive architecture. After Pier Maria's death in 1482, the castle passed through various houses including the Sforza, the Pallavicino and finally the Farnese, dukes of Parma, who held it until the duchy's extinction.
The Camera d'Oro and Bembo's frescoes
The artistic heart of the castle is the Camera d'Oro, Pier Maria's private bedchamber frescoed between 1462 and 1463 by the Cremonese painter Benedetto Bembo. The name comes from the gold-leaf decorations that covered terracotta tiles depicting courtly scenes. On the walls, a fresco cycle narrates the love between Pier Maria and Bianca Pellegrini: Bianca as a pilgrim visits the castles of the Rossi fief in search of her beloved, while putti, heraldic emblems and amorous symbols weave a refined and personal iconographic language. It is one of the masterpieces of late-Gothic painting of the Po valley and a rare secular testimony of amorous patronage. In the rest of the castle visitors can see the noble apartments, the Hall of the Coats of Arms, the Hall of the Pergola, the chapel of San Nicomede and the sixteenth-century frescoes by Cesare Baglione.
The castle today: visits, events and cinema
Since 1911 the Castle of Torrechiara has been a national monument and since 1954 it has been the property of the Ministry of Culture. It is open to the public all year round with self-guided or guided visits and forms part of the Castles of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza circuit. The fortress has inspired film-makers and writers: it was the location of films such as Ladyhawke by Richard Donner (1985), as well as numerous Italian productions set in the medieval period. Each year it hosts historical re-enactments, exhibitions, concerts and Christmas markets in the inner courtyard. The visit takes about an hour and a half. From the terraces and wall walks the view sweeps over the village of Torrechiara, the hills of Langhirano covered with vineyards and ham factories, all the way to the Apennines and, in the distance, the Po river.