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Grazzano Visconti, photo by Freed73.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Grazzano Visconti

Grazzano Visconti is a village along the Provincial road of the Val Nure, midway between Podenzano and Vigolzone and was recognised as a 鈥淐itt脿 d鈥檃rte鈥� (City of Art) by the Emilia-Romagna Region in 1986. Grazzano Visconti is about 15 km south of Piacenza, in the Municipality of Vigolzone, along the highway. In the beginning of the twentieth century, Duke Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone, father of the famous filmmaker Luchino Visconti, made build, following the technical instructions of architect Alfredo Campanini, this little village around an already existing castle.Grazzano Visconti is also surrounded with hills covered with vineyards that tourists visit often.

It does not take long to reach Rivalta (17 km) with its castle in the Trebbia Valley. Grazzano Visconti is the stepping-stone for visits to great places such as the Nure Valley, waterfalls on the Perino, near Calendasco (36 km), or Lakes Moo, Nero and Bino, all of glacial origin, near Ferriere (45 km) or to visit the small towns of Vigolzone (2 km), Ponte dell鈥橭lio (8 km), Bettola (20 km) and Farini (29 km), on the occasion of festivals or food fairs.

1.The Castle

Grazzano Visconti, photo by Gregorini Demetrio.

The castle, which served both defensive and residential purposes, dates from 1395. It was completely restored and refurnished by Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone, following the eclectic taste of the times. The castle today still belongs to the duke鈥檚 heirs. Records show that at the end of the 14th century, Gian Galeazzo Visconti gave permission to his sister Beatrice to build a castle in this inhabited area.

3.It was built in the 1900

The most unique attribute of the village is that it dates back to 1900, although it looks much older than its age suggests. Only the castle and the church are ancient structures dating back to the 14th century. The structures of the village potray a medieval times look however Duke Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone built it in the early 1900s. Over the years, several renovations have been made between the 17th and 19th centuries to the castle and other buildings in the village.

4.Museum of Torture (Museo delle torture)

Torture Museum, photo by Grafenschreck.

The Torture Museum  is found in The Palazzetto dell鈥橧stituzione also houses the small but comprehensive. The exhibit is organized into four rooms, each of which houses the main torture tools used during the Inquisition period. The Torture Museum has various artifacts, including a very rare piece from the early 17th century, the Inquisitor鈥檚 altar.

5.The Well in Gian Galeazzo

The Well in Gian Galeazzo Visconti鈥檚 square is one of the most magnificent pieces of furniture in the area. The closing lid is made of wrought iron and layered with the Biscione snakes which is the symbol of theVisconti. The well is made of stone and pink marble and is decorated with acanthus leaves and the Visconti coat of arms.

6.Duke Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone鈥檚 takeover transfrmed Grazzano

Photo by Michele Castagnetti,

Despite many vicissitudes and struggles over borders and ownership, the castle remained in the hands of the Anguissola family of Piacenza until 1870, when Filippo Anguissola died and the castle was reclaimed by the Visconti di Modrone family. However, it was Duke Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone鈥檚 (1879鈥�1941) takeover that transformed Grazzano from a ruined castle surrounded by a few dilapidated barns and hovels into a neo-medieval-style village.

Giuseppe Visconti was a well-educated man with refined tastes and clear ideas who worked in many fields; he was an entrepreneur, a writer, and a sports fan. He inherited the castle from his father at the beginning of the twentieth century and decided to renovate the entire property and establish a sort of neo-medieval village where he and his family could live away from the city, cultivating the land and recovering the ancient values of craftsmanship.

7.Grazzano Visconti鈥檚 ghost(The Statue of Aloisa)

The Ghost of the Castle is one of Grazzano Visconti鈥檚 tales. According to legend, it represents the soul of Aloisa, the wife of an army commander who died of sadness as a result of her husband鈥檚 betrayal. It鈥檚 said that she personally recounted her narrative through a clairvoyant. Today, the ghost of Aloisa is revered as the patron saint of lovers, and flowers are occasionally placed on her monument in the village of Grazzano Visconti.

8.The Gothic Church Cortevecchia

Gothic church architecture Image, Photo by Paolo Neo.

The Cortevecchia was established in 1905 and was formerly the centre of the village鈥檚 agricultural economy. It鈥檚 now been reorganised as a green space that hosts public exhibitions and events.There is a permanent exhibition of agricultural instruments under the porch of the ancient barn, where you can see original traces of work in the fields. All of the tools on show here are from local farms, particularly those owned by the Visconti di Modrone family.

9.The Palazzo dell鈥橧stituzione

 This is an elegant building that adorns the main square and served as the Visconti Foundation鈥檚 headquarters.This was the first location of the craftsmanship training school. As previously stated, Duke Giuseppe鈥檚 goal was to build a village that, in addition to providing a fitting backdrop for the castle, had useful structures to provide employment for young people completing courses in creative crafts of wood and wroughtiron at the nascent Grazzano school. As of today, this is one of the village鈥檚 most symbolic structures.

10.The Wax Museum

The Piacenza Wax museum is  located in the village centre where wax models of people who played important roles in Piacenza鈥檚 history are displayed. The wax figures are used to tell the great stories of the town of Grazzano Visconti such as the battle of the Trebbia between Hannibal and the Romans to the adventures of the military commander Alessandro Farnese.

Grazzano Visconti is indeed a beautiful village rich in Italian history and culture. It is home to the parish church of Santi Cosma e Damiano built in the 13th century and inside the church, lies the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes. Near the church is a monastery which dates back to 1000.  It is therefore ideal choice for an Italian holiday.