Summer in a camper van among the Castles of the Duchy!
From June 29 to July 31, 2023, a month full of events!
Rivalta Castle (PC), Guided tours of the castle with the possibility of aperitifs, lunches and dinners in the pearl of the Trebbia Valley, from 29 June to 31 August 2023
Restaurant Il Falco open Wednesday-Thursday-Friday (in addition to Saturday and Sunday)
Restaurant La Rocchetta open Monday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday (in addition to Saturday and Sunday)
Restaurant Bistrot Caffè di Rivalta is open everyday of the week except Wednesday when it opens at 5 p.m. Mandatory reservations: info@castellidelducato.it
Contignaco Castle (PR), The Magic and the Enigmas of the Night, Friday 30 June 2023 at 9.30 p.m., Friday 7 July, Friday 14 July, Friday 21 July, 28 July special guided tour of the Castle amidst candlelight and mysterious puzzle games. Some areas of the Castle will be illuminated by candlelight. With a tasting of the Castle’s wines. For an aperitif before the visit: “Chalices at Sunset”, from 7 p.m. Reservations required: info@castellidelducato.it
Riva di Ponte dell’Olio Castle (PC), InRiva Festival – La vedova allegra, Saturday 1 July, 9.15 p.m., by Franz Lehár, Victor Léon and Leo Stein (stage reduction for six characters): Elena D’Angelo, Paolo Cauteruccio, Mattia Pelosi, Merita Dileo, Matteo Mazzoli, Gianni Versino. Information at: info@castellidelducato.it
Gropparello Castle (PC), Aperitif with the castle – cocktails & magic, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July 2023, between glasses of wine and glasses of stars: aperitif in the scenic square with a guided night tour of the castle. For a different evening under the banner of charm, the DOC wines of the Colli Piacentini and the typical products with which the chef prepares the appetisers to be served. We invite you to bring: flat shoes for the guided tour (you can change your shoes in the cloakroom of the Taverna); a camera to take beautiful night photos. The table for the aperitif is reserved for one hour, and when booking you must indicate whether you want to have the aperitif before the guided tour or after the guided tour. Reservations required: info@castellidelducato.it
Gropparello Castle (PC), July tour to the Vezzeno Gorge with the possibility of visiting Gropparello Castle and lunch at the Manor House Restaurant or the Medieval Tavern. Every day of the week, Saturdays and Sundays included, with departure at 10 a.m. Booking required: info@castellidelducato.it
Malaspina Castle in Gambaro di Ferriere (PC), Homage to Stefano Bruzzi, the inauguration of Maurizio Gobbato’s painting exhibition with works inspired by Stefano Bruzzi, Sunday 2 July 2023 in the Manor Hall at 4.30 p.m. Interview with Maurizio Gobbato. Screening of the docu-film by Tommaso Ferrari “Stefano Bruzzi – un Macchiaiolo tra Piacenza e Firenze”. Speaker: Alessandra Bruzzi. The event is also held in the event of bad weather. Free entrance. Information and bookings: info@castellidelducato.it
Tabiano Castle (PR), Kings in flight – Great falconry event to admire eagles, hawks, owls and barn owls, flight tests, Sunday 16 July 2023 in the garden of Tabiano Castle. Starting time morning 11.00 – afternoon 17.00. With cadenced guided tours of the manor house. Information and reservations required: info@castellidelducato.it
Tabiano Castle (PR), From the walls to mars, dinner and astronomical observations, Wednesday 19 July 2023. A journey up there among the stars starts from a marvellous terrace, that of the Tabiano Castle (PR), overlooking the sky among the Parma hills. With their eyes and powerful telescopes pointed toward the cosmos, Astronomitaly experts will lead an incredible “celestial walk” to observe stars, planets and galaxies. It will start from the earth, or rather from the table, where at 8 p.m. the special menu created for the occasion by chef Maurizio Morini will be served, featuring traditional and creative cuisine with typical products from a short supply chain. Great protagonists of the evening will be the stars of the summer triangle Vega Deneb and Altair (constellations of Lyra, Swan and Eagle) with some double stars such as Mizar and Albireo, the globular cluster of Hercules, and the Lyra Ring Nebula. And if conditions permit, even Saturn can be spotted. Astronomitaly is the National Astronomy Tourism Network, winner of the ‘Italian Talent Award’. By organising stargazing events and sustainable tourism experiences, Astronomitaly drives the development of astronomical tourism in Italy. Booking required: info@castellidelducato.it
Bianello Castle (RE), Il Mistero della Banda della Mano Nera (The Mystery of the Black Hand Band), Families at Court – Children’s Special, Thursday 20 July, 9 p.m.; 10 p.m. Detective story where children will be engaged in searching for clues, solving small quizzes and logical games to discover who is the forger who is reaping so many thefts in town. An adventurous, itinerant tale through the rooms of the castle. Event suitable for children aged 5 to 10. Curated by Manuela Chiaffi. Booking required: info@castellidelducato.it
Bianello Castle (RE), Bianello tra Storia e Natura (Bianello between History and Nature), walk with visit to the manor house, Friday 21 July 2023, 8.30 p.m. We will arrive at the stronghold starting from the Pomegranate Park, passing through the village of Monticelli and entering the Oasis forest amidst the sounds of wild animals. Once at the castle, it will be possible to observe the ancient Matilde village from a historical and naturalistic point of view and to discover that certain ravines of the castle in the past and still today have hosted nesting grounds for tawny owls, barn owls, kestrels, jackdaws and common swifts. On the large oaks in the park, it will be possible to hear dormice and observe bats hunting for moths and beetles. It will also be an opportunity to observe flying deer in the ecotonal areas between forest and meadow and to listen to the song of the nightingale hiding in the hedges or the nightjar in the open, shrubby areas. For those who would like to, on arrival at the castle at around 9.30 p.m., it will be possible to take a guided tour with guides from the Associazione il Melograno (guided tour for a fee, booking with the Gruppo Storico il Melograno is recommended). The tour is also feasible for children over the age of 6. Please bring hiking or walking shoes and a torch. Booking required: info@castellidelducato.it
Malaspina di Gambaro di Ferriere Castle (PC), Case Torri e Appennine Castles – Perdita, memoria e recupero, Sunday 23 July 2023 in the Hall of Honour of the Malaspina di Gambaro Castle, 4.30 pm. Talks by Giorgio Eremo, Andrea Rossi and Gian Piero Devoti. Free admission. Information: info@castellidelducato.it
Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato (PR), Themed guided tours of the park and Rocca dei Sanvitale, Sunday 23 July. The cultural tourist itinerary recounts the 19th-century soul of the town: retracing the steps of ladies wearing hats, gloves and parasols, narrating the fashion of creating herbaria, the passion for exoticism and botany, up to the scientific discoveries discussed in the cultural salons of the time. Booking is compulsory: info@castellidelducato.it
Tabiano Castle (PR), Penny Ice Cream – Ice cream on the terrace and guided night tour of the manor house, Wednesday 26 July, Wednesday 2 August, Wednesday 16 August and Wednesday 30 August. Terrace of the Castle (in the event of bad weather internal frescoed halls). Starting time 21:30. Castles, as we know, were the abodes of kings and emperors, but at Tabiano Castle a rather special king left his mark: Carlo Gatti, the Ice King! Overlooking the cool terraces of Tabiano Castle, we invite you to enjoy an ice cream while admiring the vast panorama at night and listening to the stories of the Castle and the many characters who have animated it. After the ice cream, our guides will accompany you on a special nocturnal tour of the Castle in the evocative cellars and richly decorated halls. The activity is intended as a single package, so ice cream and guided tour cannot be sold separately. The event is also held in the event of bad weather. Information and reservations required: info@castellidelducato.it