Bianello Castle – 275 mslm

Perched on a hill overlooking the sweeping Padana Valley the Bianello castle is the true gate to the Sentiero dei Ducati (The Duchies Trail).

The stronghold (XI century) together with Monte Vetro, Monte Zane and Monte Lucio made up a defence conglomerate intimately related to the history of the Da Canossa family, whose most prominent member was Matilde, “Queen of Italy”. 

Bianello was probably developed from a simple watch tower, mostly built between the X/XI cent. and some later phases. The most significant changes to its original structure date back to XVII/XVIII cent. especially as far as the interiors (the monumental staircase, the chapel and the painting decorations).