Torre di Bobbiano, Medieval defensive tower in Travo, Italy

Torre di Bobbiano is the surviving square stone tower of a medieval castle, standing on a rocky spur in the Chiosi basin above Bobbiano, a hamlet of Travo. It has a strongly battered base, and its walled-up entrance sits above the cordon of the barbican with round-arched archivolted jambs. Only the tower and the nearby church of San Michele remain of the castle.

The fortified complex was first documented in 1037 when Teodosio von Isembrando acquired several farms and fortified buildings in the Piacenza region. This early record indicates the site's role in territorial control during the medieval period.

The structure and the nearby church of San Michele reveal how medieval communities organized their defenses. Together they show the architectural patterns used to protect settlements in this valley.

The tower can be reached by following the road from Travo toward Bobbiano and Pietra Parcellara, and it becomes visible from a distance. Preparing for field paths and uneven ground will help make your visit more comfortable.

The tower's only surviving entrance is walled up, set above the scarped base at the level of the barbican's stone coursing, with round-arched jambs. Of the castle razed in 1255, only this tower and the nearby church of San Michele remain. In the early 16th century the tower served as a hideout for the bandit Bertoletto's gang.