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This castle dates back to IX century when the medieval fortress was converted into a monastery by Benedictine monks. Subsequent sieges almost destroyed it completely, so the actual Castle dates back to 1531 – its whole structure rebuilt by the Farnese and Sforza families. Renaissance architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger took care of the work and defined the current architecture of the castle. Surrounded by a deep moat, it dominates the surrounding hamlet. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful frescoes and paintings exhibited inside or take a stroll in the Italian-style garden. The latter is actually divided into many different areas: the vegetable section – the best kept one, stretching on a rectangular shape on the right of the castle, the secret garden, the “barchetto” and “the barco” – both used for game hunting. More specifically, the whole garden is divided in twelve parterres of buxus – with hedges of laurel (Laurus nobilis), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) and buxus (Buxus sempervirens) – crisscrossed by four pathways. Potted lemons (Citrus limon) can be seen at the corners of the parterres and there is a fish pool in the centre of the garden.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)