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Località: Piazza Matteotti, 1 - Fontanellato - Parma
Phone number: 0521 829055
Site: www.fontanellato.org

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Rocca Sanvitale

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Rocca Sanvitale

Nestled in the tranquility of the province of Parma, Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato emerges as an architectural masterpiece that blends medieval majesty with Renaissance elegance. Originally erected in the 14th century on a pre-existing 12th-century building, this imposing fortress with its crenellated walls and majestic corner towers takes us back in time, evoking eras of chivalry and noble lineages.

The Rocca, which has seen a succession of major renovations, is a rare specimen of metamorphosis from military garrison to stately home: it was the family of the Sanvitale Counts who transformed it into a noble residence after acquiring it from the Visconti family of Milan. Witnessing nearly six centuries of history, the Rocca retains its charm intact, with its moat, once fed by a resurgence and restored to its original grandeur by architect Smeraldo Smeraldi in the 17th century, which can still be crossed by a drawbridge.

After having been the cradle of the Sanvitale family, in 1948 the last heir gave the Rocca and its furnishings to the community of Fontanellato, which transformed these precious spaces into a museum, enhancing its treasures and making them accessible to the public. The Rocca Sanvitale museum, which was expanded in 1999 thanks to major funds and contributions, now includes new rooms featuring historical documents, works of art from the municipality and lithographs of great interest, creating a section devoted to historical maps of the territory and the castles that dot its landscape.

The biggest attraction inside is undoubtedly the “Little Room of Diana and Actaeon,” frescoed by Francesco Mazzola, known as Parmigianino. This Parma artist, in the prime of his youth, painted the myth of Diana and Actaeon in 1523-1524, inspired by Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” for Galeazzo Sanvitale and his wife, Paola Gonzaga. The fresco is famous for its innovative use of perspective and for the vault adorned with cherubs, a wide glimpse of sky in the center and a round mirror with the inscription “respice finem,” which invites one to consider the finality of one’s actions.

Rocca Sanvitale is not only a historical monument, but a living place that continues to tell its own story. From the earliest defensive interventions of the Pallavicino family to its adaptation as a stately home of the Sanvitale family, and on to its concretization as a museum venue, the Rocca di Fontanellato stands as a key destination for lovers of Renaissance art, history and architecture.

We invite visitors, scholars and history enthusiasts to explore the corridors of this Italian treasure, immerse themselves in its painted rooms and discover the wonders of the Parma area, making the Rocca Sanvitale a must-see stop on any cultural itinerary in Emilia-Romagna.

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