Guided Tour of Rocca di San Vitale near Parma!

Hello dear friends,

I wanted to share with you some photos I took during my last guided tour, this time not in Tuscany but in my own region, Emilia Romagna, specifically in the province of Parma.

This province is quite famous not only for its culinary specialties but also because it boasts several interesting castles to visit. I had the opportunity to join a guided tour because a dear friend of mine and former high school classmate works as a tour guide in this area. Occasionally, guided tours are organized in this castle in the town of Fontanellato, about 19 km from Parma.

Unfortunately, one downside of some places is that they don't allow photography inside. In this case, it was a real shame because the interior decoration of the castle was very interesting and beautiful, especially the truly fascinating frescoes. However, being a private residence, the rules are set by the owner.
Nevertheless, I could share some photos of the exterior of the castle. Nearby, there was a wonderful little market where I spent a few hours browsing through stalls selling truly interesting items.

As you can see, this castle is surrounded by a moat, which made it impregnable in its time. It has retained its original architecture, unlike many other castles where the moats have been altered over time due to changes in the streams that fed them.
As I mentioned earlier, inside the castle, especially in the Diana and Actaeon Hall, there are beautiful frescoes by Parmigianino, a famous painter from the 1500s. If you've visited the Uffizi Gallery or other museums in Italy, you've probably seen some of his work.

Inside the castle, there is also an optical chamber. I can describe it since I couldn't take photos: it was a system of mirrors that reflected the image of the square in front of the castle. It was a way for those living in the castle to see what was happening outside without being seen. I've seen something similar before, perhaps at the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara. In a way, they were like ancient outdoor cameras used for monitoring the castle or palace.

Our guide also told us that this castle is supposedly haunted by the ghost of little Maria Costanza San Vitale, who tragically died within its walls. It is said that her presence occasionally manifests, though I'm not one to believe in such things.

I hope you found my post interesting. See you next time and have a wonderful day everyone!