Castle of Sarzano, Medieval castle in Casina, Italy.
The Castle of Sarzano is a medieval fortress in the village of Sarzano, in the municipality of Casina in the province of Reggio Emilia. It consists of two enclosure walls, three inner courtyards, and a square stone tower.
The castle first appears in written records in 958, when Atto Adalberto, an ancestor of Countess Matilda of Canossa, acquired the property by purchase. Over the following centuries, ownership changed several times, and the site remained a point of control along the Apennine routes.
The castle sits at the heart of the small village of Sarzano, where its tower and walls still shape the look of the whole settlement. Local life has long been organized around this structure, and the building remains a point of reference for people in the area.
The castle is reached from Casina by following Provincial Road 11 toward Sarzano, and part of the path is unpaved. Visiting in dry weather makes the approach more manageable, and sturdy footwear is a good idea.
The British actor Christopher Lee, known for playing Dracula, held the title of 11th Marquis of Sarzano through his family line. Few visitors know about this connection between the castle and one of the most recognizable faces of horror cinema.
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