Castle of Sarzano, Medieval castle in Casina, Italy.
The Castle of Sarzano is a medieval fortress on the summit of Monte Sarzano in the hamlet of Sarzano, part of the municipality of Casina in the province of Reggio Emilia. The upper complex consists of the perimeter wall, the rectangular keep crowned with elongated corbels, and a tower about 20 metres high on six levels at the highest point. The lower part includes the village buildings and the church of San Bartolomeo.
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 access door's lintel once carried a stone plaque recording the Carandini restoration completed in 1698. The original was stolen and later rebuilt from photographic evidence. Inside the castle courtyard, excavations carried out alongside the 1990s restoration brought to light a small medieval chapel, possibly a church later used as a storeroom.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,484 contributors worldwide.