Castello di Vigoleno

The fortified village of Vigoleno and its castle occupy a spur above the Stirone valley, combining a quadrangular keep, crenellated walls and a small historic theatre.

Why it matters

Vigoleno preserves a compact fortified settlement in which village and castle form a single defensive ensemble. The castle was documented in 1141 as an outpost of Piacenza and reinforced by Alberto Scoto in 1306. The Scotti family held it for centuries; an early twentieth-century restoration commissioned by Princess Maria Ruspoli de Gramont added decorated rooms and a small theatre.

What to notice

The quadrangular keep has swallowtail merlons, embrasures and corbels. The castle preserves historical maps, photographs and fossils from the Stirone e del Piacenziano Regional Park. Decorated rooms include the Red Room and Blue Room; a small theatre created for Princess Ruspoli de Gramont is associated with Russian artist Alexandre Jacovleff.

Context and history

Papal troops captured Vigoleno in 1373; the Visconti regained it and razed the stronghold. Francesco Scotti received rights to rebuild in 1389, and the fief became a county in 1404. The Scotti tenure ended with the estate's sale in 1908. Princess Maria Ruspoli acquired it in 1921 and commissioned restoration. The village holds the Touring Club's Orange Flag.