Bardi Castle: where it is, how to get there and what to see

Bardi Castle is a mediaeval fortress perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the Ceno river valley in the province of Parma, Emilia-Romagna; to be precise at Piazza Castello, 1.

In addition to the magnificent view of the landscape below, this timeless place offers various attractions ranging from guided tours to cultural and entertainment events. Let’s find out more about the history and characteristics of this castle, one of the most beautiful in Emilia-Romagna.

The history of Bardi Castle

The history of this imposing castle includes many changes of ownership and use. The first official document relating to the fortress dates back to 898, and is the deed of purchase by which Everardo, bishop of Piacenza, took ownership. With this change of ownership the castle officially became a place of retreat and refuge against possible invasions by the Hungarians.

As mentioned, over time the castle had several owners until it became the property of the Municipality of Piacenza le Valli del Taro e del Ceno, from which it was bought in 1257 by Ubertino Landi. From then on, the owners were always members of the original Bobbio (Piacenza) family, who over four centuries transformed the fortress from a refuge and place of worship into a luxurious princely residence.

Thanks to a shrewd marriage policy (and other factors), the Landi family gained independence from the municipal jurisdiction of Piacenza over time, and in 1551 Emperor Charles V appointed Agostino Landi as Prince of Borgotaro, Marquis of Bardi, Count and Baron of Compiano, granting the family the privilege of minting coins.

Maria Polissena, the last descendant of the family, married Gian Andrea Doria and after four centuries the castle was sold by her son to Ranuccio II Farnese. The Duke of Parma and Piacenza simply replaced the Landi coat of arms with his own, without making any structural changes.

From that moment on the castle’s destiny followed that of the Duchy, which with the extinction of the Farnese family in 1731, passed first to the Bourbon family, then to the French and again to the Bourbons.

With the unification of Italy, Bardi Castle first became a military prison until 1868 and then, after being handed over to the municipal administration, it was used as a public office building until the 1980s. It is only in the last few decades that a decision was made to carry out targeted restoration work aimed at enhancing this heritage site and opening it to the public.

Bardi Castle today

After changing hands several times, Bardi Castle has undergone various restoration projects, making it a place where you can enjoy a range of experiences:

Cultural and recreational events

At Bardi Castle you can enjoy a range of cultural and recreational events such as:

• various guided historical night-time tours;
• themed events for adults and children (last week the theme was Harry Potter);
• the wellness festival;
• visitor trails with music in the background;
• yoga activities in the castle;
• ‘horror night’ events;
• murder mystery dinners;
• craft markets.

Museums and exhibitions

In addition to the events that are organised from time to time (which can be found on the website) there are also three museums and two exhibitions inside the castle:

• Archaeological Museum;
• Museum of the Valley Civilisation;
• Museum of Fauna and Poaching;
• ‘Arts & Crafts‘ Exhibition;
• ‘Postcards from Valceno’ Exhibition.

The castle also offers various packages for individuals, companies and educational organisations for different age groups.

Article translated by Jasmina Towers

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Buildings and Skyscrapers

Travel

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