Things to do in Besenzone Italy – what to see attractions and activities

The Church of the Santissima Annunziata is dated in 1250. According to legend, the Servants of Mary assigned the task of painting the fresco of the “Glorious Virgin” to a painter called Bartholomew who never managed to conclude the face of the Glorious Virgin until one morning when he woke up he saw the work completed. It was defined as a miracle performed by the angels of the Lord. Today the church is a place of great devotion and veneration on the part of believers.

The Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie was founded at the end of 1480 by Giberto Manzi, and has a Latin cross project with three naves. Inside there is a polyptych of twelve plates, works by Filippo Mazzola, which in 1880 was decomposed due to renovations. In 2003, almost the entire work was rebuilt, except for two frescoes: San Cristoforo and Salvatore. On 3 May 2008 it became a basilica with a celebration official by Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

This is the house that was owned by composer Giuseppe Verdi from 1848 until the year of his death in 1901. The well-known composer acquired the property in 1848, but only in 1851 he began to live in the house together with his wife, Giuseppina Strepponi, also a well-known opera singer. Today the house is owned by a descendant of the Verdi family, Maria Filomena Verdi, who turned the house into a museum structure.

Historical news of the Castle of Zena dates back to the 13th century when the Castle was destroyed by infantry and knights. Over the centuries the fortress has been owned by several families and from the second half of the 19th century it was owned by the Perotti family. The building consists of six structures that have fulfilled different tasks over the centuries. So we find the Ferraria used for agricultural functions and the second noble residence Casa Scotti.

The Castle of Cerreto Landi, owned by Oberto Landi, has historical news from 1385. After switching ownership to several people of the Landi family, it was sold to Andrea Giacomenti in 1726. The structure consists of a rectangular plan with protruding and angular towers. From the keep there were two entrances connected to the ancient drawbridge, of which nowadays the remains are still preserved.

The Paderna Castle was mentioned for the first time in a 9th century document. Since 1453 it was the first stately home of the Marazzani family. Today, the structure is managed by the nobles Pettorelli, and is used for various events and ceremonies.

Torre di Masana was built in 1340, it is part of the castle located not far from Case Bruciate. The Castle still preserves one of the four original towers that from the highest point offer a beautiful panorama of the Po Valley and the Prealps.

Historical news of the Castle of Case Bruciate dates back to the 11th and 14th centuries. It is said that the noble Corrado Confalonieri set a fire involuntarily during a hunting game, and for this reason the building took this denomination. It looks like a structure consisting of three floors with a cylindrical tower on the left side that gives it the title of castrum.

Among the many monuments of Castell'Arquato is the one that best represents it, a military fortress built by the Visconti between 1342 and 1347 from the top of its keep dominates the ancient village, (one of the most beautiful in Italy) in clearer days you can see an immense plain and in the background the show of the Alps that rise majestic.

The Farnese Tower was built between 1527 and 1535. The building has a square plan structure and was used as an outpost keep against enemy armies. Currently, the Gens Innominabilis Arms School of Arms in Castell'Arquato is located in the rooms of the building.

The construction of this building was wanted by Alberto Scotti in 1292. The palace was later the seat of the government of the Podestà. Towards the short side of the building is the loggia dei Notari, now the headquarters of the Tourist Information Office. A tower with two clocks, overlooks the whole thing. The Palazzo del Podestà is now often the venue of exhibitions (painting, sculpture, photography, cribs).

The Farnese Tower is a square tower erected between 1527 and 1535. It was originally used as an outpost keep against enemy armies. Internally it has four floors, connected together by a helical staircase. Today it houses the headquarters of the Gens Innominabilis Arme School of Arms in Castell'Arquato.

The Castle of San Polo is assumed to date back to the fourteenth century and was owned by Guglielmo Landi. In the eighteenth century it was transformed into a prison by Austrian soldiers, then between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it became a residential building. Unfortunately, today it is a structure in total state of neglect and dangerous.

The Porta di Sasso was built in the '300 and is the only left of the Visconti city. It is erected in stone and brick, on the outside it has a round arch, instead, in the inner one, with a lowered sixth. The property is in excellent condition.

The Castle dates back to the 11th century and initially served as a noble refuge. In 1216 it was rebuilt, and it was occupied by the armed bodies of King Enzio. Later in 1435 he underwent some changes at the hands of Alberto Scotti. Today the castle is visible only from the outside.

Initially, the Art Gallery was created by the collections of Giulio Alberoni, which is why it was named by his name. The artist was in constant contact with some painters of the 18th century, and as a result he added many other particular pieces to his collection, as well as personal ones. Inside we find “S. Turibio that divides the water of a river”, 'Saint Francis in Meditation', 'Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian' and numerous other famous paintings.

The Castle of Vigoleno was built in the tenth century as a medieval fortified village. In 1922 it was restored by Princess Ruspoli Gramont, who transformed it into a residence for social meetings with great movie stars. Inside there are museum rooms where historical and photographic documents are exhibited. The Castle enters the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy.