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Italy
Castles and Medieval Villages of the Piacenza Hills: A 4-Day Journey Through Time
An immersion into the Italian Middle Ages among castles, fairytale villages, and the wine excellence of the Piacenza Hills.
≈ 4
Days
80
Km
4
Stops
Embark on a journey through time in the Piacenza Hills, where imposing medieval fortresses rise above perfectly preserved fairytale villages. This 4-day itinerary takes you to discover masterpieces of Romanesque architecture, hidden artistic treasures, and vineyard landscapes of rare beauty in one of Emilia Romagna's most enchanting regions.
- Piacenza, city of art with Piazza Cavalli and the rediscovered Klimt
- Grazzano Visconti, fairytale village recreated in medieval style
- Castell'Arquato, one of the best-preserved medieval centers in Italy
- Vigoleno, Orange Flag fortified village and its DOC Vin Santo
Your day-by-day itinerary
1
Day
2 photos
Discover
1
Admire Piazza Cavalli, the beating heart of Piacenza dominated by two majestic Baroque equestrian statues of Alessandro and Ranuccio Farnese. Commissioned in 1600 and crafted by Mochi da Montevarchi over 13 years of work, they represent the third and fourth Duke of Parma and Piacenza in a breathtaking masterpiece of bronze casting.
2
Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Santa Giustina, one of the best-preserved examples of Romanesque architecture in Italy. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries, it conceals behind its sober façade a richly frescoed interior, crowned by the extraordinary dome painted by Guercino in the 17th century. Climb the 136 steps to reach the 27-meter-high dome.
3
Explore the Museums of Palazzo Farnese, a sumptuous period building housing seven different exhibition areas: the Picture Gallery, the Carriage Museum, the Civic Museum, the Rizzi Vaccari Collection, the Ceramics Museum, the Risorgimento Museum, and the Archaeological Museum. A journey through centuries of Piacenza's history and art.
4
Discover the Ricci Oddi Modern Art Gallery, a museum established in 1931 that houses the famous Portrait of a Lady by Gustav Klimt. The painting, stolen in 1997 and found over twenty years later in a hidden trapdoor within the museum itself, has been visible again since 2020 and is one of the most mysterious masterpieces in art history.
Activities
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Stroll beneath the arcades of the historic center to the Basilica of Santa Maria di Campagna, a jewel of Renaissance art with its frescoed chapel blending religious and pagan figures. Since 2024, visitors can climb to the dome to admire the details of the masterpieces from a unique perspective.
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Visit the Municipal Theater, inaugurated in the early 19th century and considered among the most beautiful in Italy, as Stendhal himself proclaimed. The three-quarter ellipse auditorium, revolutionary for its time, offers extraordinary acoustics and interior decorations of meticulous elegance.
Next stop
Distance:
30 km
Travel time:
35min
2
Day
2 photos
Discover
1
Explore the Castle and Historic Park of Grazzano Visconti, the most precious part of this unique village. The 14th-century castle, completely restored by Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone in eclectic style, offers guided tours through the courtyard, the richly furnished reception rooms, and the bedrooms on the first floor.
2
Wander through the Castle Park, 15 hectares of English and Italian gardens designed by Giuseppe Visconti. Statues, vases, columns, fountains, and an extraordinary variety of trees and shrubs create a fairytale atmosphere, completed by the delightful little girls' cottage that seems straight out of a storybook.
3
Visit the Wax Museum with statues of figures connected to Piacenza's history, and the Torture Museum in the Palazzetto dell'Istituzione, small but complete, with torture instruments accompanied by explanatory panels. Adjacent is an Escape Room themed around the Inquisition.
4
Admire the Parish Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the oldest building in the village with 17th-century renovations. Inside, the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes houses numerous ex-votos, testimony to popular devotion through the centuries.
Activities
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Lose yourself in the white lanes of the village, admiring the cottages with frescoed façades, the arcades, and the statues. In the Cortevecchia you'll find the statue of Aloisa, the famous ghost of Grazzano Visconti, and a small museum of agricultural tools under the long portico.
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Explore the numerous craft shops and souvenir stores, open in every season on weekends. This rare example of revivalist architecture, recognized as a City of Art by the Emilia Romagna Region in 1986, will make you feel catapulted back in time 700 years.
Next stop
Distance:
35 km
Travel time:
40min
3
Day
4 photos
Discover
1
Explore the Rocca Viscontea, an imposing medieval fortress built between 1342 and 1349 at the behest of Luchino Visconti of Milan. With its four square corner towers, double defensive walls, and deep moat, it represents one of the best-preserved castles in Italy. Today it houses a fascinating Museum of Medieval Life.
2
Admire the Palazzo del Podestà in Piazza del Borgo, emblem of civic power built at the end of the 13th century by Alberto Scotti, lord of Piacenza. The elegant exposed brick façade dominates the village's main square, creating one of the most photographed medieval views in Emilia Romagna.
3
Visit the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria, a place of worship with ancient origins dating back to the 7th century. The sober Romanesque gabled façade decorated with blind arches hides naves adorned with precious 15th-century frescoes of extraordinary beauty.
4
Discover the Geological Museum housed in the ancient Hospital of Santo Spirito, a 13th-century building that once offered hospitality to pilgrims on the Via Francigena. The paleontological collections bear witness to millions of years of natural history in the Piacenza territory.
Activities
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Stroll through the Garden of Poetry, a large green expanse where you can find a silent refuge among evergreen trees and romantic benches. From here you can admire the entire Val d'Arda and several monuments dedicated to illustrious figures such as the luthier Antonio Stradivari.
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Lose yourself in the cobblestone lanes of the village, one of the best-preserved windows onto medieval life in Italy, framed by noble palaces and Romanesque churches expressing the power of the Scotti, Visconti, and Sforza families.
Next stop
Distance:
15 km
Travel time:
20min
4
Day
Discover
1
Explore the fortified village of Vigoleno, certified among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club. This perfect example of medieval residential logic is characterized by the elegance of its forms, with imposing crenellated walls traversed by a panoramic patrol walkway.
2
Climb the quadrangular keep equipped with arrow slits, machicolations, and Ghibelline merlons, with four floors of visits offering spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and hills. Inside the castle, the small theater with oriental images is a hidden gem not to be missed.
3
Visit the Romanesque Church of San Giorgio from the second half of the 12th century, reachable by continuing east from the main square where the 16th-century fountain stands. The intimate and spiritual atmosphere of this sacred place transports you back in time.
Activities
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Taste the Vin Santo di Vigoleno, a DOC passito wine whose vinification and aging operations must be carried out exclusively in the territory of the municipality of Vernasca. A golden nectar representing the oenological excellence of the Piacenza Hills.
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Walk the Brigands' Ring, a circuit of about 21 km that starts from Vigoleno and arrives in Vernasca passing through Monte Ciocca. During flowering season, the golden broom creates an unforgettable natural spectacle.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
What weather should you expect?
Spring (April-June): Perfect weather, blooming landscapes, comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, excellent value, Easter celebrations, ideal touring conditions.
Summer (July-August): Warmest weather, peak tourist season, highest prices, crowded attractions, vibrant atmosphere, beach season, festival time.
Fall (September-October): Excellent weather, harvest season, wine tourism, comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, beautiful colors, culinary focus.
Winter (November-March): Mild southern weather, Christmas markets, lowest prices, minimal crowds, cultural focus, cozy atmosphere, indoor attractions.
How many days should I plan?
We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 3 and 5 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.
What to discover in Italy?
Cultural masterpiece with incredible art, cuisine, and historical heritage from Rome to Venice. Experience Renaissance treasures, regional diversity, and authentic Italian lifestyle. The country offers cultural immersion with culinary excellence and artistic heritage. Italy provides complete cultural experiences with historical significance and natural beauty.