Top 5 Castles around Campegine

Whether in love or heartbroken, here you can entrust yourself to the luminous soul of the beautiful Fairy Bema, who lived in the Castle of Montechiarugolo, in the province of Parma, a renowned court of humanists and artists. You enter the crenellated manor from the drawbridge. The impregnable fortress with its high walls – defended by machicolations, loopholes, corbels – becomes an elegant Renaissance residence inside. Strolling through the ancient rooms of the Castle of Montechiarugolo, past the splendid gardens adorned with 18th-century statues from the ducal garden of Colorno, you can admire salons, tapestries, period furnishings, frescoes, and flower-scattering putti. The Annunciation attributed to the school of Pisanello stands out. Legend has it that every May 19th around midnight, the ghost of Fairy Bema appears on the castle walls, towards Parma, awaiting the return of her beloved Pio Torelli. A friendly presence that will bring you good luck!

The most famous view of Montechiarugolo is that of its imposing medieval castle perched on a promontory overlooking the Enza stream, dominating the valley between the plain and the first hills of Parma. What to see from Montechiarugolo and its Castle The Enza Valley: The village offers a panoramic view of the Enza stream, marking the natural border between the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia. The Apennines: From the loggias and the highest points of the castle, you can enjoy a splendid view stretching to the mountains of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The historic village: Around the manor house, the characteristic cobbled streets and medieval buildings of the town develop, listed among the most beautiful villages in Italy. [1, 2]

La leggenda della Fata Bema racconta la storia di una giovane e affascinante indovina giunta al Castello di Montechiarugolo nel 1593. La storia e la leggenda L'arrivo: Bema arriva nel borgo per esercitare la sua arte di maga e indovina, conquistando il favore del popolo e dei nobili locali, tra cui il giovane conte Pio Torelli. L'amore e il dramma: Tra Bema e Pio nasce un profondo legame, ma la loro quiete viene spezzata dal duca di Parma, Ranuccio I Farnese. Molto superstizioso e timoroso dell'occulto, il Duca nutre diffidenza verso la ragazza. La fine tragica: La situazione precipita nel 1612 durante la "Gran Giustizia", un evento in cui Ranuccio Farnese fa giustiziare diversi feudatari accusati di congiura, compreso Pio Torelli, che viene decapitato. Il fantasma gentile: Secondo la tradizione popolare, lo spirito benevolo della Fata Bema non ha mai lasciato il Castello di Montechiarugolo. Si narra che ogni anno, durante la notte del 18 maggio il suo fantasma torni ad aggirarsi

The mastio (or mastio tower) of the Castle of Montecchio Emilia, also known as the clock tower, is the oldest still visible part of the entire fortification, dating back to a thirteenth-century layout. Located in the northeast corner of the Rocca, this imposing keep emerges from the crenellated body of the building and is provided with a complete circuit of machicolations and Ghibelline battlements covered by a roof. Over the centuries, the structure has taken on a central role in the village in the Val d'Enza, reaching a height of 35 meters in the complex of the main tower.

Halfway between Reggio Emilia and Parma, the Castello di Montecchio Emilia dominates the historic center of the town. The beautiful building stands on a site inhabited since Roman and barbarian times, but its first fortified structure dates back to the 12th century. The first walls rise on a burial ground, along the Enza river valley. Its strategic position allows the Rocca to serve as a military post and a symbol of power. Over the centuries, the Castello di Montecchio passes from the hands of the archbishop of Parma and his allies, the Vicedomini, to those of important families such as the Visconti. In the 15th century the town falls under Este dominion; in 1562 Don Alfonso d'Este obtains the title of Marquisate for the town and the Castle becomes a noble residence. The Este rule Montecchio Emilia until the Unification of Italy in 1861. From the end of the 18th century until 1960 the Castle is used as a prison.

Beautiful fortified medieval structure. Reference point on the route.

Very well kept castle, it is the first one you come across coming from Reggio

You enter the crenellated manor from the drawbridge. The fortress is impregnable due to the high walls - defended by machicolations, slits, corbels - inside an elegant Renaissance residence. Walking through the ancient rooms of the Castle of Montechiarugolo, beyond the splendid gardens embellished with eighteenth-century statues from the ducal garden of Colorno, you can admire the halls, tapestries, period furnishings, frescoes and putti spreading flowers.