Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
4.5
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM, 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Monday
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Tuesday
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Wednesday
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Thursday
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Friday
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Saturday
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Sunday
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
About
The Sanvitale Fortress of Fontanellato rises, enchanting and suggestive, at the centre of the village; surrounded by a wide moat, it contains a precious treasure: the “Room of Diana and Actaeon” painted by Parmigianino in 1524. The aristocratic apartments of the Sanvitale counts is still intact, with original furniture and furnishings. From the “Camera Ottica” it still possible observe the real life outside the castle thanks to an ingenious system of lenses
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70 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Monica B.Milan, Italy9,819 contributionsBeautiful and well kept.The Rocca Sanvitale which is located in the center of the town is truly beautiful and well preserved: it has a square plan with crenellated walls and four corner towers and is still surrounded by a large moat filled with water. The fortress was apparently built in 1124 when a first defense tower was erected, the construction of the central keep of the fortress also dates back to the same period, which is accessed today via a stone bridge, originally a drawbridge. In 1386 the fortress came under the dominion of the Sanvitale family, whose last descendant ceded it to the municipality in 1948, which transformed it into a museum.Visited December 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten February 16, 2024
- 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙𝑜 𝐷'𝐴𝑔𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜 🇮🇹Avezzano, Italy18,472 contributionsReconciles the Middle Ages and the RenaissanceFascinating castle, surrounded by the characteristic moat in the water, which was born in the century. XIV as a medieval defensive fortress and then transformed in the century. XVI in Renaissance Court. The furnishings and frescoed rooms are very beautiful, among these the room painted by Parmigianino with the myth of Diana and Actaeon is a real jewel. The Optical room is also a unique experience, a small, completely dark room, where it is possible to see the square and the buildings outside the castle reflected on two screens via an ingenious system of mirrors. All the interiors can be admired, but not photographed, only with a guided tour at set times which lasts, on average, 45 minutes. Reservation is recommended but not mandatory.Visited December 2023Traveled with familyWritten February 16, 2024
- Carlo CMilan, Italy376 contributionsExceptional tour guidesWell preserved fortress within the town. Unfortunately many furnishings have been sold. I recommend the guided tour, the tour guides are exceptional and worth the ticket alone. Amazing optical camera. Cute village.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 28, 2024
- Patrizia S14 contributionsFascinating visitThe majestic Rocca San Vitale stands in the center of the charming village of Fontanellato. But the visit would not have been the same without our guide Federico who entertained us for over an hour by telling the intricate history of the San Vitale dynasty in a compelling and passionate way The room frescoed by a very young Parmigianino and dedicated to Diana and Actaeon is wonderful.Visited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 15, 2024
- StefanoMagliano Alfieri, Italy71 contributionsVisit that deservesRock visible internally only with guided tour. Very knowledgeable Guide who told us the history of the San Vitale dynasty and many particular anecdotes. Beautiful room frescoed by Parmigianino dedicated to Diana and Actaeon. Also amazing is the optical room, working despite the rainy day! It deserves.Visited September 2024Traveled with familyWritten September 9, 2024
- Tino Costa94 contributionsWonderful experienceThe village is very nice and quaint. La Rocca a real jewel surrounded entirely by water. Pleasant visit with competent guide. The rooms retain interesting furnishings. Then the room frescoed by Parmigianino is beautiful and exciting, an authentic treasure. To see.Visited November 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten December 4, 2024
- Riccardo LIvrea, Italy120 contributionsTo visit if you are in the area.Beautiful location, in the center of the village and surrounded by the moat. The ground floor can be visited freely, but it is worth making the ticket and follow the guided tour. Very well prepared guide, beautiful environments visited (maybe one arranged at the arms room would not hurt). Interesting visit to the optical camera. A full visit takes just over an hour and is really worth it.Visited December 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten December 27, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,344 reviews
Excellent
680
Very good
552
Average
83
Poor
21
Terrible
8
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tovel 1
Artegna, Italy1,726 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
One of those castles that you cannot miss visiting if you come to these areas. The castle is surrounded by a moat which on sunny days magnificently reflects its walls creating beautiful effects. The mighty walls and towers make it very beautiful. The internal courtyard also allows you to see it from another perspective.

Written November 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
franco l
Bari, Italy64 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Imposing fortress with four towers surrounded by a wide moat. Beautiful and evocative building with large rooms full of decorations, noble coats of arms, and furniture of inestimable value. All enriched by frescoes from the 1500s also by Francesco Mazzola (Parmigianino) which make the rooms even more fascinating. The guided tour is excellent and embellishes the history and charm of the Rocca Sanvitale museum with professionalism and wealth.
Guided tour recommended.
Guided tour recommended.

Written February 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aa27
Lausanne, Switzerland528 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
One of the many castles of the region, but probably one of the best. Well preserved, perfect walls, water all around "helping" to get nice pictures. The visit is guided only, at specific times (takes about 1 hour) and there were quite a few people, despite it was a Friday morning in winter. The guide was very precise and helpful, telling a lot about the history of the place and of the frescos. Unusual the 19th century optical installation in the dark of one of the tower, allowing to see the projection of the outside world. Pity no pictures allowed.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tualie
Varese, Italy1,599 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
As a public building, hosts part of the town hall and is open for the public so we could walk freely and look the ground floor public areas. There are more rooms upstairs and a museum (at a fee) inside which we couldn’t visit because we were there early in the morning. If have keen interest, there are guided tours which needed to be book in advance through their website.
It was a nice stop as part of a travel coffee break. The rest of the town nothing of interest, just the castle in the middle of the town.
It was a nice stop as part of a travel coffee break. The rest of the town nothing of interest, just the castle in the middle of the town.
Written March 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio L
Asti, Italy44 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Nice site. The castle is impressive. It's a shame because it's too underappreciated. The visit was accompanied by a somewhat unfriendly guide. It would be advisable to open the window shutters a little to give more light which would give better emphasis to the treasures that this castle holds. I don't agree at all with the ban on taking photos (at most you can inhibit the use of the flash). But given that the castle is a public good... I honestly don't understand...

Written June 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darren L
Queenstown, MD937 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Interesting example of a castle that has changed through the ages. We had a private guide with us who provided lots of insights into the history.
I don’t believe all the tours provided by the staff are in English, so you should probably check. Also, the public bathrooms are also quite “historic”.
I don’t believe all the tours provided by the staff are in English, so you should probably check. Also, the public bathrooms are also quite “historic”.
Written October 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Add-Jay
Utrecht, The Netherlands101 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
Went to Fontanellato on a busy Sunday afternoon. You can only visit the Rocca through a guided tour (which, I suspect, is only available in Italian). Guide was average, but the history of this building is interesting enough to keep you thrilled. We opted for the complete visit, which lasts approximately 1 hour and costs just a few euros more than the reduced one, for it includes the upper floor - although the main attractions (the splendid Parmigianino Room and the Camera Obscura) are included in the reduced fee too. The Rocca is located right in the middle of tiny Fontanellato, a pretty village full of porticoes, restaurants, and a flee market all around. All in all, this is one of those hidden gems that make Italy so worth discovering. Best would be to combine it with another castle in Parma's province; check the Castelli del Ducato webpage (the association of which this Rocca is also part) to find all possible castles, strongholds, fortresses and palaces around here.
Written March 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andrea r
Sondrio, Italy77 contributions
Aug 2019
if you want to discover Italy and his history this castle, paintings and history is worth the visit as it is the "Ducato di Parma e Piacenza" discover. The surroundings are talking about culatello and parmigiano cheese and you dont have to mix it with the fresques' master, Parmigianino. Good time but, please, try to speak some foreign language...I'm not sure that each guest is an Italian speaking person...
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
a_pettersson
Paris, France59 contributions
Oct 2018 • Family
The rooms have been carefully renovated and the Parmegiano's room is worth the visit.
This being said, the guided tour takes long time to start and to proceed, and the guide does not know any foreign language.
To kill time you have some notes to read, but the rooms are not listed in the same order as the guided tour, which is quite confusing.
The entrance ticket is not cheap, at 8€, so the municipality should strongly consider taking an intern in history or art or tourism to make the visitor's experience more exciting.
There the possibility to stop the visit after the ground floor and garden before going to the first floor. On our tour, everyone who was not Italian took this opportunity.
In a nutshell, it's nice if you have time and no kids nor teenagers with you.
This being said, the guided tour takes long time to start and to proceed, and the guide does not know any foreign language.
To kill time you have some notes to read, but the rooms are not listed in the same order as the guided tour, which is quite confusing.
The entrance ticket is not cheap, at 8€, so the municipality should strongly consider taking an intern in history or art or tourism to make the visitor's experience more exciting.
There the possibility to stop the visit after the ground floor and garden before going to the first floor. On our tour, everyone who was not Italian took this opportunity.
In a nutshell, it's nice if you have time and no kids nor teenagers with you.
Written October 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cal_Travel_Lover
San Francisco, CA209 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
The castle is situated in the middle of a mostly closed, middle ages pedestrian village. Well preserved and held privately through the centuries until donated to the state in 1948. We took the short tour which allowed us to see the 14thc murals and the camera oscura. Lovely restored and in one case original murals previously hidden behind plaster and therefore preserved. Pleasant morning in Fontanellato.
Written May 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quanto dura indicativamente la visita guidata?
Grazie.
Chiara
Written May 3, 2023
Meno di 2 ore tranquilla con me avevo mio figlio di 10 anni molto interessanto!
Written May 7, 2023
No, però si accede solo con visita guidata a orario prestabilito, quindi ad esempio noi abbiamo fatto il biglietto e atteso un'ora e mezzo, ma eravamo 8
Written March 2, 2022
è possibile fare fotografie senza flash all'interno?
Written July 31, 2020

Oceanis37
Milan, Italy
324 contributions
Noi abbiamo visitato il 19/09, era vietato scattare foto anche senza flash
Written September 20, 2020
No need for an English speaking tour. There were plenty of signboards in English and it was wonderful to stroll around the palace and grounds, with small cafes to people watch and relax.
Written October 5, 2018
lo spettacolo pirotecnico a tempo di musica lo fate ancora? se si quando è il periodo?
Written April 20, 2018
Spiacente.. nn ho letto nulla del genere.. anche per me era presente solo pubblicita che sarebbe comonciato lo street food dopo qualche settimana...
Written May 2, 2018
Francesco Z
Lublin, Poland
Se ci sono reperti antichi come armature spade cannoni
Written March 26, 2018
si e possibile solo nella parte interna del cortine non nelle sale .
Written February 4, 2018
Buongiorno.La visita con un disabile è possibile ? In carrozzina. Grazie
Written January 13, 2018
Parte della visita è a piani superiori accessibili attraverso scale, non so se abbiano anche degli ascensori per accedervi. Visita invece possibile alla sala del Parmigianino, allo stendardo ed alla sala oscura
Written January 13, 2018
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