Castellina
Discovering the village of Castellina
Castellina is a delightful village in the municipality of Soragna, in the province of Parma, only 2.03 km away from the capital. It is located on a flat position to the south of Soragna, right on the right bank of the Stirone stream. The village offers a stunning view that ranges from the gentle hills of the area to the plain below.
An ancient history rich in events
Castellina has a very ancient history rich in events, so much so that its first settlements date back to the 9th century. But the village of Soragna, of which Castellina is a part, was mentioned for the first time in 712 in a diploma of the Lombard king Liutprando. In the Middle Ages, Soragna was protected by four castles, one of which was the Castello di Castellina, later known as "la Castellina". The Castle was built in the 12th century by the Pallavicino family, who, although without investiture, owned the territory since the 10th century.
The assignment of rights to Soranea, the territory of Soragna, took place in 1145, when the Marquis Oberto gave the ruins of the Santa Maria manor to the Municipality of Piacenza. In exchange for the oath of vassalage, the Municipality of Piacenza returned the fief to the Marquis, granting him also the possibility to rebuild the fortress. In 1198, the Marquisate of Soragna was divided into two parts, probably for hereditary reasons: the portion to the left of the Stirone stream was assigned to Guido Lupi, the ancestor of the Meli Lupi family, while the portion to the right of the watercourse remained with the Pallavicino family.
Marquis Oberto II Pallavicino received confirmation of investiture on the manor and his numerous castles in the Parmense area both from the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Swabia in 1224 and from the King of the Romans Conrad IV of Swabia in 1254. Upon his death in 1269, the ownership passed to his son Manfredino. In 1311, the Lupi occupied the Castel Vecchio, taking advantage of the breakdown of the truce between the da Correggio family and the Municipality of Parma on one side and the Rossi family of Parma and the Pallavicino family on the other side. Three years later, peace was reached again, and Manfredino Pallavicino regained possession of the manor.
In 1360, Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg confirmed the rights of Oberto III Pallavicino to numerous fiefs in Parmense, including the Castello di Santa Maria di Soragna of the Marchionorum Pallavicinorum. His son Niccolò also received confirmation of feudal rights in 1395 from Emperor Wenceslaus of Luxembourg.
The Castello di Castellina through the centuries
During the 15th century, the Castellina manor belonging to Rolando the Magnificent, son of Niccolò, was conquered by Ottobuono de' Terzi in 1407. Four years later, the Marquis of Ferrara Niccolò III d'Este succeeded him, becoming the new lord of Parma after the killing of Ottobuono, and conquered some of Orlando's fiefs. The latter reached a truce with the Estense family and offered his services in exchange for the restitution of the Castello di Santa Maria.
Castellina today
Today, Castellina is a characteristic and quiet village, made up of small houses in stone and exposed brick. There are also some restaurants and farmhouses that offer the typical Emilian cuisine, based on local products such as homemade fresh pasta, cotechino and local cured meats, as well as excellent wine from the region. The strategic position of Castellina makes it perfect for excursions in the surrounding countryside to discover the characteristic hills and the mix of vegetation and wildlife that make up the area's habitat.
Conclusions
Castellina is certainly a place to visit to discover a part of Italy's history that took place under the shadow of the Castle that still stands imposing today. But at the same time, Castellina is also a place to take a break from the hectic city life, strolling through its alleys, enjoying a rare tranquility and savoring the authentic flavors of this splendid land.
