Castle of Vigoleno

The Vigoleno Castle is an imposing fortified complex in the province of Piacenza, in the municipality of Vernasca. Located on the ridge between the Ongina and Stirone valleys on a low relief, it dominates the surrounding hills. It is an example of a particularly beautiful medieval fortified village, intact in all its parts.

The foundation dates back to the 10th century, but the first documented date is 1141, when it was an outpost on the road to Parma in the municipality of Piacenza. The possession passed through many hands: mainly it belonged to the Scotti family, it saw the Pallavicino, Piccinino, Farnese family; it was destroyed and rebuilt several times.

In 1922 Princess Ruspoli Gramont had it restored and made it the site of social gatherings. Gabriele D'Annunzio, actor Douglas Fairbanks, Max Ernst, Alexandre lacovleff, Jean Cocteau, film diva Mary Pickford, writer Elsa Maxwell, pianist Arthur Rubinstein passed within its walls. In the early 1980s it was the scene of part of the filming of Richard Donner's film Lady Hawke with Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Now it is a hotel with restaurant open to the public also for ceremonies and events.

Map: Castle of Vigoleno