You will be surrounded by the charm of a Castle, while you will be enchanted by the interior of the Fortress with elegant pictorial decorations. To crown the structures you can stroll through an enchanting French garden with statues and fountain.
The Agazzano Castle complex is made up of two structures and a large terrace garden-park which overlooks the wonderful Val Luretta, a land of vineyards, cellars and excellent wines. The Fortress represents a happy synthesis between medieval defensive architecture and the elegance of the Renaissance stately home.
The Castle of Agazzano, which became the family’s summer residence at the end of the 1700s, is furnished with period furniture: you can admire splendid frescoes and precious furnishings.
The Princes Gonzaga Del Vodice, one of the most noble dynasties in the history of Italy, still live in the fortress and castle today.
An evocative and rare example of history, traditions and culture. The fortress, accessible via two opposing flights of stairs, overlooks a highly suggestive courtyard with a late fifteenth-century loggia.
The visit is divided into two distinct sections: the Fortress and the Villa, it can be considered a “dive” into the past that will allow you to appreciate the narrow spaces hidden by the mighty walls of the Fortress, which will seem even more oppressive when you admire the vastness, refinement and brightness of the rooms of the Villa.
A journey between the Middle Ages and the eighteenth century, but also as an opportunity for further insights:
The castle as a defense weapon for the territory
The military and civil structure: the evolution of the military fortress
The political history of the territory
The castle as a residence
The garden as a complementary part of the castle
The second part of the visit takes place in the Villa, built on the ancient village that was connected to the fortress and inside which there were workshops of artisan carpenters and blacksmiths.
Before crossing the entrance door you will pass under an arch surmounted by the Anguissola Scotti coat of arms. Here you are about to enter the lounge…get ready for an OH!!! of amazement because you will see…. Surprise!!! The rooms on the ground floor, completely furnished with seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture, are finely decorated with landscapes and genre scenes, which still vividly retain the colors of more than 2 centuries ago.
Worthy of attention is the rich collection of ceramics displayed in the dining room, where porcelains of different manufacture are visible in the sideboard. And for those who like billiards, there is a beautiful table with the original scoreboard from the 17th century and cues of all sizes.
At the end of the visit you will take a walk along the paths of the Garden which dates back to 1700 and was designed by Villoresi. You will recognize the French influence as well as in the cut, in the fountain and in the statues. It is also interesting to note the presence of a park, composed of ancient plants from various countries according to the canons of the Enlightenment.
Visit to the Fortress
The Fortress, dating back to 1200 and born as a military structure, retains all the charm of the early medieval “castles”.
When you are in the courtyard you will be fascinated by the magnificence of the sixteenth-century loggia, commissioned by Luigia Gonzaga, and reachable via a double staircase.
Inside, the fortress is divided into many rooms, one inside the other like a labyrinth: the kitchen with two ovens, the Luigia room in which an imposing fireplace dominates, other rooms where interesting marbles are displayed which will give you an idea of ​​the importance of the Scotti and Gonzaga families.
Visit to the cellars
During the visit to the castle cellars, it will also be possible to visit the wine processing areas, see where they age in oak barriques and where the bottles are meticulously preserved. If desired, it will be possible to taste and purchase the wines produced.
From March to September the season of guided tours
The Ghost of the Swordsman Count
The history of the castle is marked by the tragic and mysterious death of Pier Maria Scotti known as Buso (skilled swordsman who left a “hole” every time he hit a victim with his sword) who was killed by Astorre Visconti in 1529 in an inn located in Agazzano.
His body thrown into the moat that once surrounded the fortress. Despite this historical certainty the body of Pier Maria Scotti has never been found and his presence is still felt today within the walls of the castle and in the garden.
Doors that open mysteriously, lights that stay on, glass found in the rooms and whose origin is unknown.
Several inspections have been carried out by ghost expert associations which have detected traces of otherworldly presences.
Strange events have occurred over time and one is bound to believe that Pier Maria Scotti, who loved Piacenza and the people of Piacenza very much, did not want to move away completely from these places.
A novel has also been dedicated to this character.
Furthermore, Pier Maria Scotti’s wife, the countess with long blond hair Eleonora Rangoni, would appear in the loggia of the Rocca, where she loved to spend her afternoons reading and drawing.
Via del Castello 4
Agazzano (Piacenza)
Emilia Romagna – Italy
What to see in the province in the surrounding area near visiting Castles Gardens Cellars