Corte delle Piacentine, Neoclassical courtyard in Roncole Verdi, Italy

Corte delle Piacentine is a neoclassical rural courtyard complex on strada Piacentine 112 in Roncole Verdi, a hamlet of Busseto. It was planned as three adjoining courtyards; the central rectangular threshing floor is paved in terracotta and enclosed on three sides by porticoes. The south entrance wing, never completed, has a corner tower and three framed windows, the only built part of Luigi Voghera's monumental facade.

Prince Giovanni Vidoni de Soresina commissioned architect Luigi Voghera in 1820 to design this agricultural complex in the new neoclassical style. The north wing stables preserve stone capitals from the 15th century that came from the demolished Servites convent of Soragna.

Bernardo Bertolucci shot Novecento here for over a year from 1975, and returned in 1979 for scenes of La luna. The farmstead's courtyards and porticoes stand in for the Po Valley estate of the film's peasant and landowner families. The complex remains a working farm and agriturismo, so visitors see the same barns and aia used as sets.

The property now operates as an active agricultural business and agritourism accommodation, so visitors should wear appropriate footwear and be prepared for uneven surfaces. It is best to explore the courtyard during quieter morning hours to avoid disrupting farm operations.

The south wing was meant to be the owner's residence with a monumental Palladian facade, but work stopped in 1834. Only three windows with decorated frames and string courses were ever built, the sole realised part of Luigi Voghera's design. The corner tower at the left end was intended to hold the complex's oratory.