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Rocca Sanvitale
Introduction
The “Rocca Sanvitale” it’s in Sala Baganza, a village on the first hills of the Appennino, near the Baganza river, it had a primary role in the defensive system of the Parma castles.
The “Rocca Sanvitale” it’s in Sala Baganza, a village on the first hills of the Appennino, near the Baganza river, it had a primary role in the defensive system of the Parma castles.
History
Tedisio Sanvitale, brother of the Bishop of Parma Obizzo Sanvitale, by virtue of his marriage to Adelmota Cornazzani, heir from mother's side, member of the powerful Franceschi family, in 1254 get the fourth part of the feud of Sala Baganza and Maiatico, two towns in Parma province, in the foothills. In 1258 buy from Bernardino Franceschi the remaining part, coming in possession of the San Lorenzo Tower, defensive construction cited since 1492.
Between 1564 and 1578 Giberto IV Sanvitale, first husband of Barbara Sanseverino, decorate the noble floor with “Storie di Enea”, “Trionfo della Croce” (in the Cappella Palatina), portraits of the Cesari, grotesque images and labors of Hercules (this last are attributed by some to Bernardino Campi, by others to Orazio Samacchini).
With the so-called “Great Justice” in May 1612 the Sanvitale family are dispossessed and ownership passes to the Farnese family. The “Rocca di Sala” in 1723 was chosen as his own home by Antonio Farnese, which ordered the ceiling painting of some rooms by Sebastiano Galeotti with mythological and allegorical scenes.
In the early years of the nineteenth century, with the passage of the Duchy of Parma to the Napoleonic Empire, the “Rocca” and its lands are assigned to “piemontese” Michele Varron, who in 1823 breaks down the South, East and West wings, giving to the “Rocca” its present appearance. The property then passed to the Princes of Carrega, Magnani family, Romani family and in finally in 1987, in part, to the Municipality of Sala Baganza.
The latter gives start to major restoration work, during which the castle was closed to the public. The reopening took place in 2003. The historical garden at the foot of the “Rocca”, called “Giardino del Melograno”, centred around a large circular basin, has recently been restored according to the original 18th century plant by the architect Pier Carlo Bontempi, and inaugurated on April 26, 2009.
Architecture
Today the fortress architecture has the appearance of a long block bounded at the extremes by the remains of two towers. The complex called "La Cortaccia" forms an integral part of the “Rocca”.
So as you can see from the 18th century layout of the "Palais de Sala", the old palace was trapezoidal shaped and organized around two large internal courtyards, the "Grand Cour" and "Cour des Ecuries"; the first was enclosed by the portion of today's Palace overlooking on Sala Baganza main square and other three wings, which two of them (Southern and Eastern) were, subsequently, completely demolished and the third, the Western, between two courts, demolished only in part. The "Cour des Ecuries" is what today constitutes the internal courtyard of “Cortaccia”. The wings of the Palace that delimit the courtyard, even with changes, demolitions and with serious problems of land degradation, have been preserved.
The recovery intervention for restoration of the buildings that surround the courtyard, the revamping of the courtyard, the construction of underground car parks to the West side of the complex and in general the maintenance of the areas around the buildings, was done according to a careful project aimed to complete upgrading and revaluation of this area.
Today the fortress architecture has the appearance of a long block bounded at the extremes by the remains of two towers. The complex called "La Cortaccia" forms an integral part of the “Rocca”.
So as you can see from the 18th century layout of the "Palais de Sala", the old palace was trapezoidal shaped and organized around two large internal courtyards, the "Grand Cour" and "Cour des Ecuries"; the first was enclosed by the portion of today's Palace overlooking on Sala Baganza main square and other three wings, which two of them (Southern and Eastern) were, subsequently, completely demolished and the third, the Western, between two courts, demolished only in part. The "Cour des Ecuries" is what today constitutes the internal courtyard of “Cortaccia”. The wings of the Palace that delimit the courtyard, even with changes, demolitions and with serious problems of land degradation, have been preserved.
The recovery intervention for restoration of the buildings that surround the courtyard, the revamping of the courtyard, the construction of underground car parks to the West side of the complex and in general the maintenance of the areas around the buildings, was done according to a careful project aimed to complete upgrading and revaluation of this area.
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