Anyway, probably we’re the only italians that had a winter holiday in Oberammergau, and not to ski! yes you read it well, we only had need to relax after the stress of the daily routine, and we found a nice environment-friendly holiday apartment, completely built with wood, warm and cozy. For only 35 eur / day, it was included also a sauna and bike rental (even if being winter we didn’t took advantage of it).

We arrived in the late afternoon, and we did a short walk in the town, since as you may know in winter gets dark early.

In the dusk light a curious figure attracted our attention: the vase-woman ! it was a very bizarre “sculpture” made entirely with vases, just in the middle of the town!

vasewoman, the new super hero!

The next day we decided to ignore the weather challenge (it had snown a lot during the night) to reach the Neuschwanstein’s castle, to see how it was during the winter (we had already the luck to admire it during summer). On the road to reach it, we found a very nice church in the plain before the castle that had a very particular atmosphere, you can see it in the picture below.

a small church in the winter landscape, with menacing cloudy sky behind…

At last we were arrived in front of the huge castle, that was magnificent even with all that snow and the cold (in Bavary can get very cold during winter!). Already from some distance the view was great, but we decided to leave the car and walk even more near.

Neuschwanstein during winter, like in a fairy-tale!

Unfortunately when we reached the Marienbrucke bridge, the perfect spot to take a picture of the castle, the sun was already going down so the light wasn’t really good to take photographs. Add to this that my digital camera isn’t exactly professional, and you can see the bad result in the picture below. I tried to fix it with Photoshop but unluckily that’s the best I could get

Neuschwanstein during winter, seen from the bridge of Marienbrucke

The castle’s age is around 869 d.c. and in the following centuries it became first a feud of Landi from Piacenza, then was occupied by Farnese family and lastly, went under “Ducato di Parma” domain.

It was built through several steps, and often renovated, the fortress is one of the best examples of medieval citadel that remains in good conditions even nowadays.

It surely will be fascinating to visit it, walk along the high walls or in the tall towers, or even visit some wicked places like the Torture Chamber where you can admire still the executioner’s axe!

But there’s more: the Castle of Bardi is rumoured to being haunted by a ghost, that seems to have appeared several times during the recent history. The legend says that it must be the ghost of Moroello, a man who died violently and who was in love with Soleste, the young daughter of the Castle Lord.

So as you can see is an old castle rich of fascinating history, as witnesses the recent discovery: an old parchment that speaks about a hidden treasure inside the castle…

Even the surrounding of Bardi are full of interesting places to visit. From the local flora and fauna, with wonderful naturalistic scenery, to more mystery and adventure if you decide to visit old abandoned towns like Lavacchielli, Caneto, Agneto, Ca’ Scapini.

A few km away from Parma, the Torrechiara castle’s lies on the top of a “small” hill. Surrounded by vineyards, it offers the visitors a wonderful panoramic view of the landscape. You can already spot it from distance, from the road that leads to its feet, and suddenly you feel immersed in a magic atmosphere.

Built by Pier Maria Rossi between the 1148 and 1460, with the purpose of building both a citadel and a luxurious residence, managing to accomplish both goals. It is considered the best and most visited castle of the whole Parma’s region. Those characteristics made it a perfect location for the movie “Lady Hawke”by Richard Donner.

Inside there aren’t many furnitures, mostly decorated walls/rooms, the most famous of them is the “Golden Chamber” rebuild in 1911 by Amedeo Bocchi e Daniele De Strobel. If you want to rest there during the night, you can rent a room in the “Locanda del Castello”, opened all year, which is just inside the castle walls. If instead you’re looking for a great restaurant, we recommend “Antico Mulino”, just below the castle entrance, where you can find delicious dishes!

view of the castle from below, really majestic!

the castle entrance

Located in the “pianura padana” between the two rivers Taro and Stirone, the town of Fontanellato has old origins, but it has the period of maximum splendor under the reign of “Sanvitale” family in the beginning of 1400.

The towncenter has still clear medieval architectures and it’s well mantained. It is dominated by the “Rocca” (Citadel), built in the beginning of 1400, it has became during the years the town’s symbol. The citadel is in perfect conditions, it has a large moat around it, and on the inside it has precious furniture and artwork of the “Parmigianino”, a very talented painter of the first half of 1500.

An appointment not to miss, for the antiquarians, is the traditional market with over 300 exhibitors that takes places every 3rd sunday of each month in the square around the Rocca Sanvitale.

The castle’s origins dates back to XVI -XVII century, when was under the control of the Landi family. It had public schools, markets and its own currency. After a period of decline, its importance rose again during World War II, in which it became the capital of the “Free territory of Valtaro”.

The castle seen from a street of the village around it

Today, the castle is public property and inside it there are two important museums, and a part of it is now a relais with park, pool and congress center.

There’s a curious legacy between the Castle and the Prince Albert of Monaco, who came to visit the castle the 9th july 2003.

A wonderful rose bush nearby the castle’s entrance

Awarded as one of the most beautiful villages of Italy, the old village of Compiano lies all around the omonimous castle. The old walls surrounding it are perfectly mantained and you can walk over them, enjoying a wonderful sight on the Taro Valley.

another view of the castle from the entrance