Castello di Sarmato, Medieval castle in Sarmato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
The Castello di Sarmato features a distinctive U-shaped brick structure surrounded by square perimeter walls with double embrasures, a moat, and an angular tower with internal donjon enclosing the inner ward.
Built around 1250 on the remains of a Sarmatian settlement, the castle served as a strategic defensive outpost for Piacenza against invasions, witnessing numerous sieges and ownership changes throughout medieval conflicts.
The castle houses the 'Sala dei filosofi' decorated by Bonifacio Bembo with philosopher portraits, multiple frescoed rooms with period furnishings, and maintains strong connections to Saint Roch's religious traditions in the area.
Open for guided tours every Sunday starting at 3:00 PM in winter and 3:30 PM in summer, visitors can explore gardens, furnished interiors, archives, and walk the Saint Roch Trail around the property.
The castle remains inhabited by the original Zanardi Landi family who personally conduct preservation efforts, making it one of the few continuously occupied medieval fortresses in northern Italy still open to public visits.
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