Booking choice: The guided castle visit, from $26 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Torrechiara was built between 1448 and 1460 by Pier Maria II de' Rossi, on a hill 278 metres high above the Parma river. From outside it is a fortress, with four corner towers, a gate tower and double moats. Inside, it is a residence covered in paint, from the Camera d'Oro of the 1460s to the great halls of the late 16th century.
Below: the rooms floor by floor, the towers and the loggia, the films shot here, why the rooms are bare, how long you need and whether it is worth the trip.
The quick answer
Inside you see the ground-floor Sala del Pergolato and the rooms of hunting and fishing, the kitchen and the Oratory of San Nicomede; upstairs, the Hall of the Acrobats, the Sala di Giove, the Sala della Vittoria, the Sala del Velario and the Camera d'Oro, then the loggia. The rooms are largely unfurnished: the frescoes and the views are the show. Allow about an hour, or 90 minutes with a guide.
What is there to see inside Torrechiara Castle?
Painted halls from the 15th and 16th centuries, the Camera d'Oro, the courtyard, the kitchen, the oratory and a panoramic loggia.
- The Corte d'Onore: the courtyard at the heart of the castle.
- The ground floor: the Sala del Pergolato, the four rooms of hunting and fishing, the kitchen with its stone fireplace, and the Oratory of San Nicomede.
- The first floor: the Hall of the Acrobats, the Sala di Giove, the Sala della Vittoria, the Sala del Velario and the Hall of the Coats of Arms.
- The Camera d'Oro: the count's bedchamber and its love story.
- The loggia: views over the Parma valley.
What are the painted rooms on the ground floor?
The Sala del Pergolato, painted as a wooden pergola heavy with grapes and exotic birds against the sky, and the four rooms of hunting and fishing, whose skies show dawn, midday, evening and night.
The pergola is a trompe l'oeil by Cesare Baglione, the painter who led the late 16th-century decoration of the castle. The kitchen keeps its stone fireplace. The Oratory of San Nicomede, below the Camera d'Oro, is where legend says Pier Maria Rossi and Bianca Pellegrini lie buried; its door still has old nails with their intertwined initials.
A licensed guide shows you the details in 90 minutes; the tour is in Italian and the ticket is extra.
Check dates for the guided castle visitWhat is the Hall of the Acrobats?
The Salone dei Giocolieri, a grand reception hall on the first floor, with a frieze of 20 scenes between gilded caryatids and, above the fireplace, acrobats forming a human pyramid on four lions.
Around it are the Sala di Giove, the Sala della Vittoria, the Sala del Velario, painted in 1575, and the Hall of the Coats of Arms, all from the late 16th century, when the Sforza of Santa Fiora owned the castle. They are a century younger than the Camera d'Oro, and you feel the change of taste as you walk through.
What is special about the Camera d'Oro?
It is Pier Maria Rossi's bedchamber, frescoed around 1462 with Bianca Pellegrini searching for him through his lands and castles: described as the only Renaissance cycle in Italy celebrating the courtly love of real people.
Its terracotta relief tiles were once covered in gold leaf, stripped around 1910. The story, the painter and the legend are in our Camera d'Oro guide.
A morning walk in Parma, then a guided visit inside Torrechiara with the Camera d'Oro. In Italian; castle ticket and transport extra.
Explore the Parma and castle tourWhat are the towers and the loggia?
The loggia is part of the visit, with views of about 270 degrees over the Parma valley. The four corner towers are the Torre del Leone, the Torre del Giglio, the Torre di San Nicomede and the Torre della Camera d'Oro.
The Torre del Leone is the tallest, named for the Rossi lion; the lily of the Torre del Giglio is said to stand for Bianca. The loggias were added in the late 16th century by Sforza I Sforza, to make the fortress more of a home. The 2008 earthquake damaged walls and merlons; after consolidation, the upper rooms reopened in 2014.
Was Ladyhawke filmed at Torrechiara Castle?
Yes. Richard Donner filmed scenes of Ladyhawke (1985) here, and the castle has appeared in other films and series.
- Condottieri (1937).
- La tragedia di un uomo ridicolo by Bernardo Bertolucci (1981).
- Ladyhawke by Richard Donner (1985).
- La Certosa di Parma, a TV miniseries (2012).
- Borgia, a TV series (2014).
Reviewers often mention the Ladyhawke link among the reasons they came.
Why are the rooms empty?
Because the furnishings were sold off: in 1909 a private buyer stripped the castle, and the Italian State bought it in 1912. What remains are the painted walls and ceilings.
Visitors report that the rooms feel bare, and it is the most common complaint in reviews. Go knowing that you are there for the frescoes, the architecture and the views, not for furnished halls. The Bembo polyptych and the wooden tribune from the oratory are now in the Castello Sforzesco in Milan.
Bare rooms come alive with a guide: the private day includes the ticket and a guide in English.
Check dates for the private food and castle dayHow long does the visit take, and is it worth it?
About an hour alone, 90 minutes with a guide. For frescoes, views and a real love story, most visitors think it is worth it: Tripadvisor shows 4.5 out of 5 from about 1,480 reviews.
Reviewers praise the frescoes, the views and the Ladyhawke link; they complain about the bare rooms, the steep walk and the short weekday hours (9:00 to 15:00, Tuesday to Friday). Add the village, lunch or a tasting nearby, and it becomes a fine half day. Prices and the Sunday booking rule are in our tickets and hours guide.
Ninety minutes with a licensed guide through the village, the painted halls and the Camera d'Oro. In Italian; ticket extra.
Explore the guided castle visitFrequently asked questions
What is inside Torrechiara Castle?
Painted halls from the 15th and 16th centuries, the Camera d'Oro, the courtyard, a kitchen, the Oratory of San Nicomede and a panoramic loggia.
Is Torrechiara Castle furnished?
Hardly at all: the furnishings were stripped in 1909. The frescoes and views are the attraction.
Was Ladyhawke filmed at Torrechiara?
Yes, Richard Donner filmed scenes of Ladyhawke (1985) at the castle.
How long do you need inside?
About an hour on your own, or 90 minutes on a guided visit.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Torrechiara Castle: History, Love Nest and Legends
- 90-minute visit with a licensed local guide, in Italian
- The village, the Rossi family story and the Camera d'Oro
- Meet in front of the Church of San Lorenzo in the upper village
Parma Hills Food Tasting and Torrechiara Castle, Private
- Private guide for your group, in English or Italian
- Parmigiano Reggiano dairy and Prosciutto di Parma plant, with tastings of cheese aged 12 to 36 months
- Torrechiara Castle ticket and a glass of DOC Colli di Parma wine
