Dark Ages, tough life and Medieval Castles…for bloggers
Sara Mantovani May 28, 2012Bloggers taking part to Blogville project visited last week medieval castles in the area of Parma and Piacenza and had step back into 15th century life.
Let us give you a bit of history regarding Torrechiara a little town lying on the hills near Langhirano, at about 18 km from Parma and not far from the Apennines. It rises about 80 metres above the valley floor and thanks to its particular position dominates the nearby valley where the Parma river flows between the town and the adjacent mountain.
The Torrechiara Castle is an important example of 15th century architecture and even if it is on a hill, it presents the typical regular design of a plains castle: the original structure has remained intact since the castle was not only conceived as a fortification but also as a residence for accommodating a noble court.
The compromise between its military function and its residential function kept it from undergoing the structural changes and additions common to many buildings built as fortresses and subsequently modified to be made into noble residences at the end of feudal fighting. The castle has three rings of walls and four angular towers.
More info: iat@comune.langhirano.pr.it
