Along the provincial road from Piacenza to Alessandria, just a few miles from Piacenza, few people realize the hidden gem in the town of Sarmato, as if to hide his fascination with prying eyes.

We do not recommend a detour, but we recommend just for a intentional visit .

You will be enchanted by the ancient village surrounded by walls that are accessed by an impressive arched entrance with pointed arches decorated with battlements dovetail, then inside the castle, in addition to its gardens and medieval structures, frescoed halls and furnished, the rooms of the archive, the grand ballroom, bedrooms and the "Hall of the Philosophers" attributed to Bonifacio Bembo.

A bit of history:
It seems that its origin dates back to about half of the first century AD as a settlement of Sarmatian people, hence the name.
The first information we have documented (1216) as an outpost for the defense of Guelph from Piacenza against Ghibelline from Pavia.
In 1270 it suffered the conquer, with significant damage, from the Lord of Bardi (Bardi).
As a result of successive political and military events, it belonged to the noble Scotti until 1819 when, with the death of the last heir of the family becomes the property of the heirs Zanardi Landi.

The heir of Zanardi Landi continue to reside in the castle and began a recovery historic, artistic and cultural heritage.
About a year ago it entered into the circuit of the "castles of the Duchy".

The castle and the surrounding areas are closely linked to the history of St. Roch (Montpellier, early 1300) and its first owners, the Pellestrelli, in Sarmato occurred the most important episode of the saint's life: the encounter with the noble Gotthard and the dog, which, as legend told, he argued, the pilgrim during his illness.

For more info:
castello di Sarmato
castelli del ducato
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