Castello di Pietragavina, Medieval castle in Pietragavina, Italy.
Castello di Pietragavina is a stone fortress at 860 meters elevation built with a semicircular layout and a central tower featuring battlements and arrow slits. The main floor holds an entrance hall, living room with fireplace, study, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom, all set within a surrounding garden space.
The fortress appears in an imperial diploma from Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1164, marking its early significance in the region. It later passed to the Malaspina family, who controlled it through the 15th century as a key position in local politics.
The fortress reflects medieval defensive building traditions of the Oltrepò Pavese region, showing how people shaped mountain strongholds to command the surrounding valley and protect trade routes below.
The property sits in a rural setting, making a car the most practical way to reach it from nearby towns. Since the surroundings are quiet and quite remote, plan for a full visit and consider exploring the wider valley landscape during your stay.
During the 1960s, Italian television host Mike Bongiorno frequently spent time at the nearby restaurant-hotel Posta, drawing attention to this remote mountain corner. His presence and connections helped make the area known to Italy's television audiences of that era.
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