Family & Children

At the beginning of the last century, Count Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone commissioned the construction of a village in Neo-Gothic style around his castle. Grazzano Visconti was referred to as a "surreal village" which seems at home in a fairy tale book. The buildings and the urban decorations are all perfect medieval replicas, as Count Visconti had intended. Tournaments take place regularly, while knights and dames pop up behind the alleys' corners helping visitors travel back in time.

On the grounds of Gropparello Castle, younger visitors can travel back to the Middle Ages to rub elbows with elves, magicians, fairies and witches. Children will wear special knight tunics and be given swords and helmets before being escorted through a fun path in the castle's enchanted wood. The tour will become a fairy tale to be experienced in Italy's first emotional park.

Shopping

A shopping arcade with several shops selling fashion and accessories at attractive prices. Recommended for a relaxing shopping afternoon.

Well-known brands and a wide selection of goods: from electronics to jewellery, from books to fashion. Its location on Piacenza's outskirts makes it easily accessible.

Piacenza is a shopper's paradise. Stroll through the town centre and browse the windows of the many boutiques offering smart brands as well as local handicrafts and gastronomic delicacies. The Porta Galera market takes place every fourth Sunday of the month and is the place to go for collectors' items and antiques.

History & Art

Open from 20 March till 26 June and from 4 September till 1 November.
The Castle was built by the Anguissola family. It is structured around a square base with four crenellated towers, two square and two cylindrical. In the Middle Ages this fortress was an important outpost of the Ghibellinis, as they fought for the control of the town of Piacenza. A 45-acre park surrounds the castle.

The Sarmato Castle is a private residence in the Val Tidone with large public rooms with wooden ceilings, several bedrooms and private courts, all furnished with ancient furniture. Within the walled grounds one can visit old workers' homes, three churches and the small fortress which housed the local garrison and the prison.

Open from April to October.
Although the Olgisio fortress is one of the oldest and most attractive of the Piacenza area, it is surprisingly little known. The fortress was built around year 1,000 and it has an irregular shape, a small Renaissance loggia and six layers of defensive walls. It is located high above the Tidone and Chiarone streams.

Open all year.
The town of Bobbio dates back from the Middle Ages and it is especially well known because of the San Colombano Abbey. The Abbey was founded by an Irish Saint in 614 A.D. and throughout the Middle Ages it played a very important role in Europe's religious, as well as political life. Its library includes extremely rare and valuable books which are kept in the Scriptorium. Bobbio's Medieval origins are detectable in the urban planning of the town, which is considered one of the finest in Italy. The Gobbo bridge, which crosses the Trebbia river with its 11 stone arches, dates back from Roman times and is considered Bobbio's landmark. In the town center the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is also worth a visit.

Open from 1 May to 25 September.
This elegant castle spreads around a large court used for agricultural purposes. It was built in the IX century and it is surrounded by solid walls. Today the castle is a private residence and its owners farm their land according to the biological techniques. An educational farm and vegetable garden are open to the public.

Open from 20 March until 13 November.
Gropparello was built between VIII and XIII centuries in the Vezzeno valley. It sits on a rock above the river in a rather inhospitable setting. Irregular in shape, it is surrounded by thick woods, within which lays the Fable Park, Italy's first emotional park, where guided tours, as well as banquets in the Medieval Tavern are available to visitors of all ages.

Open all year.
The Fortress was built between 1342 and 1349 by Luchino Visconti with the purpose of defending the town of Castell'Arquato and the Arda valley. The main building stands above the overall structure and is surrounded by high crenellated towers.
Castell'Arquato is considered one of Italy's finest towns. It is located in the Val D'Arda and its center is on a hill-top. Its main square, the Piazza Monumentale, sits on the highest part of the hill and it is surrounded by the Visconti fortress, the Santa Maria Convent, dating back from the VIII century, and the Podestà Palace, which was the siege of the town's political power. Luigi Illica, famous opera writer who worked with both Puccini and Mascagni, was born in Castell'Arquato. The biennial international contest dedicated to opera professionals is named after him. In September Castell'Arquato hosts a historical fair, "Relive the Middle Ages", while in June, the Vernasca Silver Flag, a classic car race, starts from here.

Open from March to October.
Bartolomeo Barattieri, ambassador to the Court of Pope Julius II, built the castle in 1460. The castle is surrounded by a 6-acre park and boasts thirty formal rooms, all richly furnished and decorated. Lovers of contemporary art might be interested in visiting the Museum in Motion (MiM), which is housed in the castle's loft and includes over 800 works of art, paintings, sculptures and drawings, by Italian and International artists.
Approximately three km from the Castle is the Cortemaggiore village, founded by Gian Ludovico Pallavicino in 1479 to make it the main center of his family's estate. The Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, in the village center, is one of the most important churches in the Piacenza area.

Open all year.
The fortified village sits on a hill-top which separates the valleys of the Ongina and Stirone streams. In 2002, Vigoleno was included in the list of Italy's finest towns and has also acquired the Touring Club Italiano's Orange Flag, as a testimony of its touristic and natural values. The village has an elliptical shape and is surrounded by high crenellated walls from which one can admire a wonderful view of the Stirone valley. The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is on the main square, while the Church of San Giorgio, built in the XII century in Romanic style, is also worth a visit.

The Piacenza region boasts many monasteries and abbeys. The Chiaravalle della Colomba Abbey in Alseno was founded by San Bernardo di Chiaravalle in 1136. It has an octagonal shape, with the Gothic/Romanic style Basilica as its main structure. The cloister dating back from the XIV century is a true gem and it is the only rural cloister dating back from this period in the whole of Emilia- Romagna. Take time to walk the entire perimeter of the cloister, admiring its columns and sculptures.

Velleia is a town dating back to Roman times. It is in the high Arda valley, close to Lugagnano and on top of a hill from where the borders of the Emilia, Liguria and Toscana regions could be militarily controlled. The town was excavated in 1760 by Filippo Borbone, Duke of Parma. The remains of the Forum, the Thermal Baths and the Basilica can be visited. There is also an archeological museum which contains precious sculptures that were found during the excavations.

Sport

The Castell'Arquato Golf Club extends over 200 acres in a green and peaceful valley between the provinces of Piacenza and Parma. It is an 18 hole course, which would be considered challenging for beginners. The large Club House is a welcoming retreat after a few hours on the green.

There are a number of shooting estates around Relais Colombara Spa & Wellness, where it is possible to shoot between September and December. Pheasants, hares, wild boares and partridges are the main catch.

The Trebbia river natural oasis is a fisherman's paradise. Several fishing techniques can be entertained. The touristic reserve of Gorreto is especially recommended for natural and artificial bates, as well as fly fishing. Carpfishing is available in the Brugneto lake.

The Trebbia river is an ideal stream for kayaking and rafting as it alternates calm stretches with more challenging traits.

Night Life

The Village is a well known club in the Piacenza area. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the hottest nights: house music, revival and greatest hits. The club has four bars and the largest one is housed in the big central gazebo.