Castione Marchesi
Castione Marchesi: A Millennial History
Castione Marchesi, also known as Castione dei Marchesi, is a hamlet of the municipality of Fidenza, in the province of Parma. This locality owes its name to the Castle of Castione Marchesi, known as "Castel Leone", which stood there during the medieval ages. Over the centuries, the place name became "Castelleone", "Castelioni", "Castiglione", "Castione" and finally "Castione Marchesi", referring to the Pallavicino family.
The Millennial History of Castione Marchesi
From the first excavation campaigns carried out in 1861, it was possible to trace back to the end of the 3rd millennium BC, when a first inhabited nucleus was founded in the place where Castione Marchesi stands today. The village, consisting of a few huts on stilts and a necropolis, was occupied by the Terramaricoli until the 8th century BC, when the Etruscans took over.
Subsequently, the Romans settled in the area, leading to the centuriation and agricultural division of the territory. The connection roads to nearby locations were modified in modern times following the construction of the Cremona-Fidenza railway and the A1 motorway. In the 10th century, the territory of Castione was once again reclaimed by the Benedictine monks, commissioned by Adalberto I Obertengo degli Obertenghi.
Castione Marchesi had the privilege of having a fortified monastery, the Monastery of Santa Maria Assunta, built starting in 983. Shortly thereafter, the marchese Pallavicino had the castle of Castione Marchesi restored, which had existed since ancient times. In 1325, the Benedictines were forced to leave the monastery, and the Guelfs of Parma, in flight, set fire to the castle to prevent it from falling into the hands of Azzone Visconti, lord of Milan.
With the takeover of power by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the Pallavicino were authorized to regain possession of their territories. Castione Marchesi thus became part of the Pallavicino State of Rolando il Magnifico. The reconstruction of the fortress in 1440 was his work, while in 1476 the marchesi started a series of important works, including the renovation of the ancient Romanesque church and the reconstruction of the adjacent monastery.
The Castle of Castione Marchesi
The Castle of Castione Marchesi was built in Roman times, whose traces are still visible on the walls of the castle. Subsequently, the construction was enlarged by the Benedictine monks, and later transformed into the abbey of Castione Marchesi. The structure was also the site of important renovation works carried out in the 1980s, thanks to which the ancient tower was recovered. Today, the castle, together with the Romanesque church, constitutes a unique historical-architectural treasure.
Visiting Castione Marchesi
Castione Marchesi is a perfect destination for lovers of history and ancient architecture. It is worth visiting the Castle of Castione Marchesi and the Romanesque church, which with its architecture recalls the Lombard Romanesque tradition. In addition, in the Lodi area, stylistic and liturgical analogies are found with the church of San Bassiano in Piacenza.
Finally, for archaeology enthusiasts, the National Archaeological Museum of Parma preserves the artifacts found at the necropolis of Castione Marchesi, dating back to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.
Conclusions
Castione Marchesi is one of the pearls of the province of Parma, a place that has preserved the charm of the millennial history that has seen it as a protagonist. The visit to the Castle of Castione Marchesi and the Romanesque church is worth a stop, for both touristic and cultural purposes. The locality has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and every historical period has left important traces here, making it today a unique heritage of its kind.
