Castell'Arquato "Assisi of Emilia"

The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta
The presumed origin of the church of St. Mary is the 758. Rebuilt and consecrated in 1122 after the destruction of the earthquake of 1117. The church has three naves, separated by seven columns on each side of sandstone. The bell tower dates from the thirteenth century. The chapel dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria from the early '400. The paintings are by an unknown author on the walls the entire cycle of the Passion of Jesus, the center the funeral of the Virgin and his glory. In early 1700 the church suffered the ravages of the plaster. The chapel of St. Joseph dates back to 1630 and is dedicated to the saint who is also patron of the Village. The side pictures depicting the marriage of Mary and the birth of baby Jesus, they are works of Giacomo Guidotti. The altarpiece, the Holy Family from the early 1700-1720. The cloister was built between the thirteenth and sixteenth century.

The Palazzo del Duca
Built in 1292 by Alberto Scotus as shown by the inscription in the fountain of Montaguzzo at the level of the foundations. Once used as a residence of Judge, was later sold by the community Bosio II. In the palace of the duke was received in 1543 by Pope Paul III Farnese, on his visit to his daughter Constance. The palace was leaving a tunnel in the direction of the nearby tower that served as a liaison between the two buildings.

The Palazzo del Podestà
Built in 1293 by Alberto Scotus. To which were added in mid-400: the loggia of "notaries" and a wing facing the square. The building has three floors and cooked up a vast and deep arches, surmounted by a crown of battlements, windows enriched with the purposes and merlettature friezes and surmounted by a tower on a pentagonal plan whose walls are greeted by two large northern watches. The palace was used for the processing of administrative and justice is now headquarters of the city, and hosts conferences are held here, in the Loggia dei Notari, art exhibitions.

The tower Farnese
Consisting of four floors, the tower retaining the original character of sixteenth-century military buildings with a square plan and four bastions at the corners, and communicating a central hall with three small rooms in the octagonal bastions and a spiral staircase in the remaining bastion. The origins of this monument are unclear but it is assumed that the construction was begun by Bosio "The Count of Santa Fiora in 1527-1535 and finished by efforts between 1545 and 1575.

The Rocca
Dating back to 1342 and built a fort on the foundations of existing. Five years later, Luchino Visconti put his hand still in the construction of the fortress by raising the high tower that still dominates the village and Val d'Arda. The building consists of two parts connected to each other, a rectangular bottom wall, and less willing higher. The walls are provided at the corners of four crenellated towers (just east has been integrated). The main entrance was once with a drawbridge. Another entry, again with drawbridge, sets forth the solata. The keep consists of several communicating rooms with a staircase in the wood and the masonry to the head of the fortress where you can enjoy the panorama of the Po Valley to the Alps to the north and the Apennine ridge to the south. Museums

Geological Museum G. Cortesi
From the monumental square, down the stairs or walking away Caolzio Sforza, one comes to the ancient "Ospedale Santo Spirito, a XVI century building of considerable importance from a historical and architectural importance. , It houses the Geological Museum of the Province of Piacenza.
Opening: From March to October open daily
Tel: 0523.803822

Museum of the Collegiate
It is located on the premises of the rectory and accesses it from the cloister built around 1300 by Alberto Scotus. E 'divided into 4 rooms and two corridors constitute a path where the visitor can admire the genuine treasures of art.

How to get to Castell'Arquato
Whether from Piacenza and Bologna from Parma go along Via Emilia up to Fiorenzuola d'Arda, then take the road that takes you straight to Castell'Arquato.
We recommend the A1 motorway exit Fiorenzuola d'Arda
From Cremona you can take the road to get to 462 Fiorenzuola and from there take the provincial road.
E 'possible to reach Fiorenzuola the motorway A21.
If you come from Liguria you can take the Via Emilia 62 coming from the state or the highway, exiting at Parma Ovest. By train: The nearest stations are those of Fiorenzuola, Wertheim and Piacenza.