Castle of Salvaterra, Medieval castle in Casalgrande, Italy

The Castle of Salvaterra is a medieval fortress located near Casalgrande in the Emilia-Romagna region. It stands on elevated terrain with thick defensive walls and typical medieval military features designed to watch over the surrounding land.

The castle dates from around the year 1000 and in 1209 hosted Emperor Otto IV on his journey to Rome, where Innocent III crowned him on 4 October. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times, including in 1376 by Guido da Fogliano and in 1409, when it passed to the Este. In 1444 the last Della Sala, Alberto, died and the fief went to his son-in-law Francesco da Landriano, then to Borso d'Este, who in 1449 granted it to Feltrino Boiardo, count of Scandiano.

The emblem of Salvaterra is the coat of arms of the Della Sala family, who ruled the village from 1414 to 1444. Old documents state that its position on the first floor of the turret marked where Alberto Della Sala was buried; the coat of arms is now kept inside the church, beneath the organ balcony.

The castle stands in the hamlet of Salvaterra, a frazione of Casalgrande in the province of Reggio Emilia, at the crossing of the roads toward Arceto and Secchia. The best-preserved part is the front section, where the entrance portal and the small turret with the drawbridge slots face the visitor. Look for the row of battlements crowning the front wall.

The coat of arms of Salvaterra, the blazon of the Della Sala family who ruled the village from 1414 to 1444, was once fixed on the first floor of the turret. Old documents say that spot marked where Alberto Della Sala, the family's last representative, was buried. The coat of arms is now kept inside the church, beneath the organ balcony.