The Rocca Sanvitale, or Sanvitale Castle, is a fortress residence in the centre of the town of Fontanellato, near Parma, northern Italy. Construction of the moated block, accessible through a drawbridge, was begun in the 13th century, mostly completed by the 15th century, with embellishments continuing through to the 18th century. It is prototypical of the urban castle-houses of the turbulent medieval communes of Northern Italy. Until the 1930s it was the home of the descendants of the Count of Sanvitale.
The crenelated walls and asymmetric towers are surrounded by an arcaded town. Adjacent to the castle are gardens and a courtyard. The optical chamber (camera ottica) has an optical system that projects to an inside wall a view of the town through mirrors and a prism. Rocca Sanvitale is now partly a museum and partly offices and conference hall for the town administration.
Inside are the frescoes of Diane and Acteon painted in 1523–24 by Parmigianino for the Count Galeazzo Sanvitale and his wife, Paola Gonzaga.
44°52′57″N10°10′21″E / 44.88250°N 10.17250°E
Montagnana is a town and comune in the province of Padova, in Veneto. Neighbouring communes are Borgo Veneto, Casale di Scodosia, Urbana, Bevilacqua, Pojana Maggiore, Pressana, Minerbe and Roveredo di Guà. As of 2017, the population of Montagnana is 9120. The town was awarded with the Bandiera arancione and is a member of the I Borghi più belli d'Italia association.
Fontanellato is a small town in the province of Parma, in northern Italy. It lies on the plains of the River Po near the A1 autostrada, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Parma towards Piacenza.
Rocca San Felice is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy.
Sala Baganza is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 90 kilometres (56 mi) northwest of Bologna and about 12 kilometres (7 mi) southwest of Parma.
The Ducal Palace, also known as Reggia di Colorno, is an edifice in the territory of Colorno, Emilia Romagna, Italy. The palace we see today was refurbished by Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma in the early 18th century on the remains of a former castle.
Torrechiara Castle is a 15th-century castle near Langhirano, in the province of Parma, northern Italy. It sits atop a terraced hill south of the city of Parma, in a strategic position overlooking the Parma River in the valley below. The castle was commissioned by Pier Maria II de' Rossi, the fourth count of San Secondo, and built between 1448 and 1460. The fortress shows the influence of the castles of the House of Sforza, particularly Visconti-Sforza Castle. The castle is managed by the Polo Museale dell'Emilia Romagna since 2015.
A rocca is a type of Italian fortified stronghold or fortress, typically located on a hilltop, beneath or on which the inhabitants of a historically clustered village or town might take refuge at times of trouble. Generally under its owners' patronage, the settlement might hope to find prosperity in better times. A rocca might in reality be no grander than a fortified farmhouse. A more extensive rocca would be referred to as a castello.
Rocca dei Rossi is a castle located at piazza Mazzini #12 in the town of San Secondo Parmense, province of Parma, in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. A different Rocca dei Rossi, also known as Castello di Roccabianca, is located in the town of Roccabianca.
Portrait of Galeazzo Sanvitale (1524) is a painting of the condottiero Gian Galeazzo Sanvitale by the Italian late Renaissance artist Parmigianino. It is housed in the National Museum of Capodimonte, Naples, Italy.
Gian Galeazzo Sanvitale, also known as Galeazzo I Sanvitale was an Italian condottiero, a member of the noble Sanvitale family.
The San Quintino is a Renaissance style, Roman Catholic church located at Strada XXII Luglio number 21, near the intersection with Borgo Scacchini, in Parma, Italy.
The Rocca Meli Lupi, also called Rocca di Soragna, is a castle-palace located in the town of Soragna, Province of Parma, region of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. It has a rough, unfinished exteriors and highly decorated interior rooms.
The Palazzo Sanvitale is a palace located on Piazzale Sanvitale #1 in central Parma, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The palace now houses a museum.
The Castello or Castle of Roccabianca, also called Rocca dei Rossi, is a castle built in the town of Roccabianca, province of Parma, Emilia Romagna, northern Italy.
Pier Maria Rossi or Pier Maria II de' Rossi was an Italian condottiere and count of San Secondo, whose properties included the castle of Rocca dei Rossi. He was known as "the Magnificent".
The Visconti Rocca of Romano is a rocca in Romano di Lombardia, Bergamo, Lombardy in Northern Italy. It was built in the 13th century and expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries by the Visconti and Colleoni families.
The Visconti Rocca of Urgnano, also known as Visconti Castle or Albani Rocca, is a middle age fortification in Urgnano, Lombardy in northern Italy. It was built in 1354 by Giovanni Visconti, Archbishop, and Lord of Milan. Today, it is the property of the Urgnano municipality.
The Castello or Castle of Felino is a moated castle in a forested grove near the town of Felino, province of Parma, region of Emilia Romagna, Italy.