Castell'Arquato

Castell’Arquato is an Italian town located on the first hills of Val D’Arda in the province of Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna, approximately 30 km from Piacenza and 35 km from Parma. Places nearby include Bacedasco, Vigolo Marchese, Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Lugagnano Val d’Arda, and Vernasca.
A medieval town of traditional structure which has maintained its appearance as it was in the early 10th century, the Old Town of Castell’Arquato is a high rock which in other times was strategically important for dominating the valley, now surrounded by the village.
Its structure has led to appearances in movies such as Ladyhawke. Opera librettist Luigi Illica, known for his long collaboration with composer Giacomo Puccini and author of the libretti of such operas as Tosca, La bohème, Madama Butterfly and Andrea Chénier was born in the borough in 1857.
Castell’Arquato is also in the area of the Colli Piacentini (Piacenza Hills), an important area for wine production. The most important wines produced in the Colli Piacentini are Gutturnio, Bonarda, Ortrugo, Malvasia, and Monterosso Val d’Arda.
The origins of Castell’Arquato are uncertain. It is believed that it originated as a Roman military settlement (castrum). During the Roman Imperial Era it developed into a small rural town, thanks to its position commanding the routes from Piacenza and Parma toward the Ligurian Sea (Liguria is at the end of the Piacenza valley).
The first historical news concerning Castell’Arquato (known as la Pieve) appear in the 8th century. Castell’Arquato seems to have been constructed by a “noble and powerful lord named Magnus”. Magnus built the squared based castle and a church “In honor Mater Dei” (756-758). At that time Castell’Arquato had a military (Castrum) and an agricultural organisation (Curtis), the Justice Administration (Curia) and the Religious Administration (Pieve).