Torrechiara
Torrechiara
Between the Po river and the Apennine mountains south of Parma and Piacenza lie a series of wonderfully preserved castles that demand the traveler's attention. This is also the main production area for Parma hams (almost all are produced here) as well as Parmigiano cheese and Colli di Parma wines. You can't go wrong on a visit here. The best preserved castle is Torrechiara.
Torrechiara is a village in the Langhirano municipality, in the province of Parma, northern Italy. It is especially known for its massive castle, built by Pier Maria II Rossi (1413-1482), count of San Secondo, between 1448 and 1460.
The castle is almost unchanged since the 15th century, when it was built by Pier Maria Rossi upon the ruins of a fortress house 80 meters above the valley floor. The entry charge of 3 Euros makes it a bargain. Every room awash in "grotesque" frescoes, my favorite being those in the Salon degli Acrobati (Acrobat's Room), where naked acrobats perform impossible feats of fantasy atop lions. In other rooms, fantasy scenes combining animals, plants and people are strung out over every surface. A note in one of the rooms remarks that the term "grotesque" derives from "grotto-esque", referring to the works found in ancient grottoes such as those attributed to Titus and Traianus Baths.
The castle has four rectangular towers, connected by a double line of merloned walls. The inner court is called Cortile d'onore ("Courtyard of Honour").
The towers are the following:
Torre di San Nicomede, with the eponymous chapel. It guarded the plain towards Langhirano
Torre del Giglio ("Lily Tower"), so called for it sported Bianca Pellegrini's coat of arms.
Torre della Camera d'Oro, with the chamber of Rossi and Pellegrini.
Torre del Leone ("Lion Tower"), facing north, which is the keep of the castle. It takes its name from Rossi's coat of arms.
The interior is characterized by numerous rooms decorated with fantastic, grottesco or naturalistic elements. On the first floor, together with the Salone dei Giocolieri ("Jugglers Hall"), is the Camera d'Oro ("Golden Chamber"), one of the most famous examples of erotic chambers in Italy. The fresco cycle in thelunettesportrays Bianca Pellegrini running her and Rossi's fiefs, searching for her lover: the paintings are attributed to Benedetto Bembo. The chamber opens onto a panoramic porch.
The edifice was thought not only as a defensive structure, but also as mansion for the count's lover, Bianca Pellegrini, for which a famous hall, the Camera d'Oro ("Golden Chamber") was built with decorations by Benedetto Bembo.
Scenes of the 1985 film Ladyhawke were shot at the castle.
Torrechiara is a village in the Langhirano municipality, in the province of Parma, northern Italy. It is especially known for its massive castle, built by Pier Maria II Rossi (1413-1482), count of San Secondo, between 1448 and 1460.
The castle is almost unchanged since the 15th century, when it was built by Pier Maria Rossi upon the ruins of a fortress house 80 meters above the valley floor. The entry charge of 3 Euros makes it a bargain. Every room awash in "grotesque" frescoes, my favorite being those in the Salon degli Acrobati (Acrobat's Room), where naked acrobats perform impossible feats of fantasy atop lions. In other rooms, fantasy scenes combining animals, plants and people are strung out over every surface. A note in one of the rooms remarks that the term "grotesque" derives from "grotto-esque", referring to the works found in ancient grottoes such as those attributed to Titus and Traianus Baths.
The castle has four rectangular towers, connected by a double line of merloned walls. The inner court is called Cortile d'onore ("Courtyard of Honour").
The towers are the following:
Torre di San Nicomede, with the eponymous chapel. It guarded the plain towards Langhirano
Torre del Giglio ("Lily Tower"), so called for it sported Bianca Pellegrini's coat of arms.
Torre della Camera d'Oro, with the chamber of Rossi and Pellegrini.
Torre del Leone ("Lion Tower"), facing north, which is the keep of the castle. It takes its name from Rossi's coat of arms.
The interior is characterized by numerous rooms decorated with fantastic, grottesco or naturalistic elements. On the first floor, together with the Salone dei Giocolieri ("Jugglers Hall"), is the Camera d'Oro ("Golden Chamber"), one of the most famous examples of erotic chambers in Italy. The fresco cycle in thelunettesportrays Bianca Pellegrini running her and Rossi's fiefs, searching for her lover: the paintings are attributed to Benedetto Bembo. The chamber opens onto a panoramic porch.
The edifice was thought not only as a defensive structure, but also as mansion for the count's lover, Bianca Pellegrini, for which a famous hall, the Camera d'Oro ("Golden Chamber") was built with decorations by Benedetto Bembo.
Scenes of the 1985 film Ladyhawke were shot at the castle.
Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke is a 1985 fantasy film directed by Richard Donner, starring Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer.
In medieval Europe a thief called "The Mouse" escapes the dungeons of Aquila, setting in motion a chain of events that may save or destroy a beautiful woman and a brave captain. The two lovers are doomed to lifelong separation by a demonic curse invoked by the corrupt and jealous Bishop of Aquila: by day Isabeau is transformed into a hawk, while at night Navarre becomes a black wolf. Imperius, the monk who drunkenly betrayed their love to the Bishop, has found away to break the curse, but only if he and the Mouse can get them back into Aquila to face the Bishop.
In medieval Europe a thief called "The Mouse" escapes the dungeons of Aquila, setting in motion a chain of events that may save or destroy a beautiful woman and a brave captain. The two lovers are doomed to lifelong separation by a demonic curse invoked by the corrupt and jealous Bishop of Aquila: by day Isabeau is transformed into a hawk, while at night Navarre becomes a black wolf. Imperius, the monk who drunkenly betrayed their love to the Bishop, has found away to break the curse, but only if he and the Mouse can get them back into Aquila to face the Bishop.
Ladyhawke: trailer
Plot
In twelfth century Europe, Philippe Gaston, "The Mouse" (MatthewBroderick), is a thief facing execution who escapes the dungeons of Aquila, via the sewers, and flees to the countryside. The Bishop of Aquila (John Wood) sends his Captain of the Guard Marquet (Ken Hutchison) to hunt down Phillipe; he and his soldiers corner Philippe, but are foiled by a mysterious black knight who reveals himself to be their former Captain, Etienne of Navarre (Rutger Hauer), traveling with a beautiful and devoted hawk. Marquet warns the Bishop of Navarre's return, who among other things summons Cezar (Alfred Molina) the wolf trapper.
Navarre tells Philippe why he saved him: he needs Philippe's unique knowledge to lead him inside Aquila and kill the Bishop. As they travel Philippe becomes aware of mysterious and frightening events surrounding them, including the appearance at night of a black wolf and a stunningly beautiful woman (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is unafraid of the wolf.
Navarre and the hawk are wounded in another encounter with the Bishop's men; Navarre sends the hawk with Philippe to the old monk Imperius (Leo McKern), to heal her. At the ruined castle Philippe finally realizes the truth, which Imperius confirms: the hawk is a woman named Isabeau d'Anjou, who came to live in Aquila after her father died at Antioch.All who saw her fell in love with her, including the powerful and corrupt Bishop. But Isabeau was already in love with his Captain of the Guards, Etienne of Navarre, with whom she secretly exchanged vows.
Accidentally betrayed by their confessor, Imperius, they fled. In his insane jealousy the Bishop made a demonic pact to ensure they would be "Always together; eternally apart": by day Isabeau becomes a hawk, by night Navarre becomes a black wolf. Neither has any memory of their half-life in animal form; only at dusk and dawn of each day can they see each other in human form for one fleeting moment, but can never touch.
In despair Navarre plans to kill the Bishop or die in the attempt, making the curse irrevocable. But Imperius has discovered a way to break the curse; he and Philippe must convince the lovers to try. If they can win through the adventures that befall them (including an encounter with Cezar), in three days' time a solar eclipse at Aquila will create "a day without a night and a night without a day": when the lovers stand together in human form before the Bishop, the curse will be broken.
Filming locations
Ladyhawke was filmed in Italy; the alpine meadow of Campo Imperatore-Abruzzo served as a prominent exterior location, while the monk scene was filmed at Rocca Calascio, a ruined fortress in top of a mountain. In the region of Emilia-Romagna, the village of Castell'Arquato in the province of Piacenza and the castle of Torrechiara in the province of Parma (the castle of the movie) were also featured. Other Italian locations used include Soncino (Cremona) in the Lombardy region, Belluno in the Veneto region, and the Lazio region around Viterbo.
Navarre tells Philippe why he saved him: he needs Philippe's unique knowledge to lead him inside Aquila and kill the Bishop. As they travel Philippe becomes aware of mysterious and frightening events surrounding them, including the appearance at night of a black wolf and a stunningly beautiful woman (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is unafraid of the wolf.
Navarre and the hawk are wounded in another encounter with the Bishop's men; Navarre sends the hawk with Philippe to the old monk Imperius (Leo McKern), to heal her. At the ruined castle Philippe finally realizes the truth, which Imperius confirms: the hawk is a woman named Isabeau d'Anjou, who came to live in Aquila after her father died at Antioch.All who saw her fell in love with her, including the powerful and corrupt Bishop. But Isabeau was already in love with his Captain of the Guards, Etienne of Navarre, with whom she secretly exchanged vows.
Accidentally betrayed by their confessor, Imperius, they fled. In his insane jealousy the Bishop made a demonic pact to ensure they would be "Always together; eternally apart": by day Isabeau becomes a hawk, by night Navarre becomes a black wolf. Neither has any memory of their half-life in animal form; only at dusk and dawn of each day can they see each other in human form for one fleeting moment, but can never touch.
In despair Navarre plans to kill the Bishop or die in the attempt, making the curse irrevocable. But Imperius has discovered a way to break the curse; he and Philippe must convince the lovers to try. If they can win through the adventures that befall them (including an encounter with Cezar), in three days' time a solar eclipse at Aquila will create "a day without a night and a night without a day": when the lovers stand together in human form before the Bishop, the curse will be broken.
Filming locations
Ladyhawke was filmed in Italy; the alpine meadow of Campo Imperatore-Abruzzo served as a prominent exterior location, while the monk scene was filmed at Rocca Calascio, a ruined fortress in top of a mountain. In the region of Emilia-Romagna, the village of Castell'Arquato in the province of Piacenza and the castle of Torrechiara in the province of Parma (the castle of the movie) were also featured. Other Italian locations used include Soncino (Cremona) in the Lombardy region, Belluno in the Veneto region, and the Lazio region around Viterbo.