Rocca di Fontanellato

A visit to the Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato represents a journey to rediscover the history of the Sanvitales, lords of the castle from the 14th century to the mid-20th century. Stories, therefore, of weapons and love have followed one another over the centuries. Today, all this can be relived through a visit to the richly frescoed rooms with mythological themes, among which Parmigianino's "Hall of Diana and Actaeon" stands out. The room was commissioned by Giangaleazzo Sanvitale and his wife Paola Gonzaga. The room is the prelude to a whole series of interesting and fascinating environments such as the Sala delle Equilibriste, the Sala degli Amorini and the Sala delle Grottesche. A curiosity about Rocca Sanvitale concerns the Optical Camera, one of the few still functioning in Italy. Its peculiarity consists in being equipped with mirrors that reflect the image of the square in front of it in a dark environment. In fact, it is thought that the room was designed by Giovanni Sanvitale at the end of the 19th century and represented an interesting parlor game. Finally, like any self-respecting castle, there is no shortage of stories of charm and mystery. Someone claims to hear the echoes of ancient inhabitants of the castle, in particular those of Barbara Sanseverino and Maria Sanvitale.

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