Saint Valentine at Rocca Sanvitale – Loves and Flavors of the Past

An Evening of Love at Rocca Sanvitale

On Valentine's Day, the Rocca Sanvitale of Fontanellato, a fortress surrounded by a wide moat in the heart of the village, becomes the stage for an evening dedicated to love. The event "Loves and Flavors of the Past" offers a thematic guided tour that combines historical narrative, poetry, music, and tasting, designed for couples, history enthusiasts, and romantic travelers.

Between History, Poetry, and Tasting

Accompanied by expert guides, visitors experience an immersive journey through the castle's halls, many of which are specially decorated for the occasion. The narrative intertwines the love stories linked to the Sanvitale family – who lived in the residence for over five hundred years – and courtly life, with famous romantic tales from the past that still resonate today. The storytelling is enhanced by moments of poetry and music and is completed by a tasting of wines from the Parma region, selected to tell the local wine heritage, glass by glass.

The Treasures of the Rocca

The Rocca Sanvitale holds some treasures known throughout Italy: the famous Chamber of Diana and Actaeon, frescoed in 1523-1524 by Francesco Mazzola, known as Parmigianino, and Italy's only functioning Camera Ottica (Optical Camera), created in the late 19th century in the southern tower, which projects an image of the square outside onto a screen using a system of mirrors. Visiting the castle on a special evening like this means discovering it in an unusual and evocative setting.

Part of the Castles of the Duchy Circuit

The initiative is part of Valentine's Day in the Castles of the Duchy, the widespread program that animates the historic walls of Emilia-Romagna across the provinces of Parma, Piacenza, and Reggio Emilia, with candlelit dinners, evening tours, wellness experiences, and tastings of local products. In Fontanellato, a municipality in the province of Parma, the Rocca Sanvitale is one of the most beloved venues in the circuit.