Castle of Tabiano, Medieval fortress in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy.

The Castle of Tabiano is a medieval fortress sitting on a hill near Salsomaggiore Terme, in the Po Valley, built with tall defensive walls, round towers, and wide terraces. The interior is open to visitors and contains rooms from different building phases.

The Pallavicino family likely built the castle between the 10th and 11th centuries on the remains of a Roman settlement, though some historians date it to the early 12th century. In 1143 Oberto I divided his lands among his sons, sparking a dispute; Delfino received Tabiano, and in 1150 the fortress was conquered, plundered and destroyed by his brother Guglielmo and the Piacenza troops. It was rebuilt in 1153, and in 1158 Frederick Barbarossa sealed peace between the brothers at the Diet of Roncaglia.

Some rooms still have painted walls and plasterwork that reflect the taste of the noble family who lived here. Walking through these halls gives a sense of how private life and public display were mixed in a place like this.

The castle has been open to the public since 2016 and is part of the circuit of the Castles of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza and Pontremoli. The route to the main building climbs along the ridge, so allow time for the uphill walk. The medieval village and the castle form a single complex, with the oldest houses inside the 13th-century walls.

An active farm producing Parmigiano Reggiano operates within the castle grounds, a tradition that started in the 19th century. It is unusual to find cheese production running inside the walls of a medieval fortress.