Castello di Calendasco

Calendasco, Italy, Italy

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Castello di Calendasco is a well-preserved brick fortress in the province of Piacenza, with origins dating back to around the 11th century.

Built in a strategic position near the Po River and an important route used by merchants and pilgrims, it played a significant defensive role throughout the Middle Ages. The castle was destroyed and rebuilt during regional conflicts, passing through the hands of several noble families, most notably the Confalonieri family, who controlled it for about two centuries.

The fortress is recognizable for its moat, cylindrical tower, brick walls, and traces of its former drawbridges. Together with a church and a pilgrims’ hospice, it once formed the historic settlement of Calendasco. Today, the castle remains one of the area’s most important medieval landmarks, valued for its history, architecture, and connection to the region’s ancient travel routes.