Take Versailles, add a thousand years of history, and place it a stone’s throw from the Po. Far from dreams: this beauty exists, but very few people know about it. However, it would be enough to visit it just once, after all, it is a stone’s throw from Piacenza and Lodi, and even Milan is not so far away that you realize that Chignolo Castle Mon is an Italian gem that is not surprisingly compared to the palace of the Sun King and Marie Antoinette. Even today, with a history spanning almost a thousand years, it is the place of great events and receptions, but also a monument that must be visited on the route that connects the most beautiful destinations of the Po Valley. Are you ready to discover it together?
Chignolo Po Castle on a motorbike. Itinerary
Map
Way
When we leave Lodi, the route that leads us towards the Chignolo Po is a kind of 4, which is drawn in the heart of the Po plain and touches the Adda Sud Regional Park and more precisely the Adda River together with the Po River that we will pass. cross coming to Piacenza. Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Chignolo Po, and Casalpusterlengo will be the intermediate stages of this route, which avoids motorways and main connecting roads, with a total length of less than 60 kilometers.
A castle that resembles a palace: the incredible story of Chignolo Po
The hunting lodge near Chignolo Po Castle dates back to the 17th century
An excellent example of historical architecture that combines elements of the Middle Ages and the 18th century. The Chignolo Castle Mon has a very ancient origin in its ancient forms: it was here that in 850 Liutprand had a defensive tower built to protect the road Pavia, the capital of the Kingdom of Lombardy. Equally Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route that still connects Canterbury and Rome today. Over the centuries, Chignolo Po Castle has undergone significant changes. His original structure dates back to 1200 but was subsequently renovated and partially rebuilt between the 17th and 18th centuries. Initially associated with Benedictine monks and adjuncts Abbey of Santa Cristina served as a place of hospitality for pilgrims and for storing the wines produced by the monks. Between 1700 and 1730, the castle was transformed from a medieval fortress into a sumptuous palace that hosted important figures such as popes, emperors, and kings. It is to this period that the designation widely used by tourist guides refers to Versailles of Lombardy.
Already known in the past as Castello Cusani-Visconti, then Castello Procaccini, Chignolo Po is often compared to Paris Palace for its grandeur and beauty. Inside, you can admire a sumptuous ballroom with frescoed ceilings depicting the glory of the four seasons, as well as apartments that once hosted important historical figures such as Pope Clement XI, Napoleon Bonaparte or Francis I of Austria. The presence of works of art from the Tiepolo school, with stuccos and paintings that decorate the reception rooms, makes the castle a museum of art and customs of great value.
The Village in front of the castle from 1600, forms an important architectural complex, protected at the entrance by a moat, two guard boxes, and four ravelins. In the 13th century, the castle became one of the main fiefs in Lombardy, hosting the Pusterla, Federici, and Cusani families, who received privileges and concessions from the Milanese kings and dukes. Today it is one of the Places in the heart of the FAIcan be visited by tourists and organizes important events such as weddings (accepted I Wedding prices for 3 consecutive years in 2021, 2022, and 2023) and a gala company meeting.
What to see in the itinerary
The historic center of Piacenza with the magnificent Palazzo Comunale
A seemingly short itinerary that, if enjoyed to the fullest, will take up an entire weekend. In addition to the elegant Chignolo Po Castle, here are some tips on the places to see in the area and especially what they have to offer:
- Praises: Lodi’s historic buildings overlook its central Piazza della Vittoria, the porticoed heart of the city. The Cathedral citizen dominates the square and is an excellent example of Gothic architecture.
- Sant’Angelo Lodigiano: it is worth stopping here to admire the Middle Ages Bolognini Castle, which houses the museum collections of the Morando Bolognini Museum. It offers a fascinating insight into rural life and agriculture in the region, as well as talks about the production methodology of bread.
- Casalpusterlengo: an intermediate destination a few steps from Po, a beautiful historic center with a network of guest streets Church of San Biagio historic building with architectural elements in the Renaissance style
- Piacenza: considered one of the first cities to join a united Italy, it has a lot to discover. Cavalli square for example you Mochi horse, equestrian statues dedicated to Alessandro Farnese and Ranuccio I Farnese. Elegant Town hall originating from the end of the 13th century, as well as the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Santa Giustinabuilt between 1122 and 1233.
