Taking a walk in the village of Castell’Arquato will allow you to admire splendid monuments and take a step back in time.

Starting the walk from the bottom of the town it is possible to see the Torrione Farnesiano, a sixteenth-century military construction. Next to it stands the Palazzo del Duca with the fountain of the same name. This building was built in 1292, as can be found in the inscriptions present in the foundations of the fountain and was the Palace of Justice.

Continuing the climb along the old road called “Solata“, you will find the majestic Rocca Viscontea. The construction of this building dates back to 1342 under the domination of Luchino Visconti and stands on the foundations of the “Roman castrum quadratum” of the third century BC. (a camp in which a unit of the Roman army, such as a Legion, resided). The highest tower of the Rocca was an important observation point between the Po Valley and the slopes of the Apennines that lead to the sea.

After admiring the grandeur of the Rocca Viscontea, you get captured by the beauty of the Piazza Monumentale: here the three powers of the Middle Ages are represented. Religious power, represented by the Collegiata (Collegiate Church), military power, represented by the Rocca Viscontea and political power, represented by the Palazzo del Podestà.
The Collegiate Church dates back to 728, but was rebuilt in 1122 after it was damaged in the earthquake of 1117. The church has three naves with a trussed roof and a length of 15 meters. The columns are 7 on each side made with sandstone.
The Palazzo del Podestà was built in 1292 on the northern side of the Piazza Monumentale. This building was modified numerous times over time and it’s bigger than it was at the beginning.

In addition to the buildings and monuments of exceptional beauty and historical significance, walking through the streets of Castell’Arquato you can enjoy wonderful views of the lower part of the village and the Po Valley: every corner of the town is a discovery of the beauty of Italy.