Arquato Castle

In the greenest Arda's valley a village and a Visconti's medieval fortress.
About 30km from Piacenza and some little more from Parma, nested on the top of the hill overlooking the green of Arda's river valley, Arquato Castle is a splendid medieval village around the huge fortress, that was made in 1342 on orders of Luchino Visconti. During Middle Age the village had been the political, military, economical and religious centre of a wide region, with its fortress, the church, the market and all the facilities for agricultural production as mills, bakers, oil mills, etc. During the history the fortress was owed by Scotti's family, then by Visconti's and lasta by Sforza's till to 1707, when the Castle was included in Parma and Piacenza Dukedom.
Entirely in brickwork, as many important buildings of this area, the fortress is made of a wider rectangular lower enclosure laying on two levels, and by a minor one situated in a higher position. A high keep dominates the whole that once was isolated and was later included in the walls.
Of the Castle the exterior courtyards, the interior of the keep may be visited, and the multi-medial museum of Middle Age everyday life.
Out of the castle it is surely worthy while taking a walk in the surrounding village: the alleys are decidedly attractive and very little known by tourists.
Also to visit the huge Collegiate Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, built around 750 and reconstructed in 1122. The interior has three naves covered with wooden trusses and separated by sandy stone columns. The cloister was made between XIII and XV century, whilst the bell tower is of XIII. And more, you have the Podestà Palace, XIII century with XV century additions, all in brickwork, which is the main material in the village.
An other point of interest in Arquato is the emerging of marine sediments, as several species of animals and vegetables arrived till to our days as fossil rests. The Piacenziano Natural Geological
Reserve (geologic layer between 3,5 and 2,5 million years, medium-superior Pliocene) was founded to protect the pliocenian rests emerging in Po river basin, divided in nine section, one being the one included between Lugagnano and Castell'Arquato.
The town has a system of Museums on different subjects, all deserving a visit.
- Museu of the Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Assumption.
- Museum Luigi Illica
- Geological Museum Giuseppe Cortesi-
- Museum of Middle Age everyday life in the fortress.