Grazzano Visconti
The first documents to mention Grazzano date from the 11th
century. The next mentions date from the 14th century,
when the Anguissola family, one of the most important families of
Piacenza's history, was here in Grazzano. Here, Giovanni Anguissola
had the Castle built in 1395.
The possessions of Grazzano
remained the property of the Anguissola family up until 1884, when
Francesca (Fanny) Visconti, Gaetano Anguissola's wife, died and she
left the possessions to her nephew Guido Visconti di Modrone.
But
the settlement that arose around the castle then has little to do
with the village that we can admire today. The project of Grazzano
Visconti dates from the beginning of the 20th century, it
was the brainchild of the Duke Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone
(1879-1941), assisted by the architect Alfredo Campanini.
Duke
Giuseppe's dream was shared and common in the cultural context of the
time, especially in England and in other industrialised countries.
The Arts and Crafts was an English movement which considered the
craftsmanship as the real expression of the human work and
creativity, whereas industrialised production was on a massive scale
and low-quality. This movement deeply influenced the Village's
architecture and its authentic neo-medieval style. This choice is due
to the pursuit of the national medieval roots in a nineteenth-century
Europe which spread this style in painting, decorative arts and
architecture.
Piazza Gian Galeazzo ViscontiThe international torture museum hosts several faithful reconstructions of the instruments of torture used in medieval age-
334 916 5896
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only saturday, sunday and public holidays openGuided tours in the wonderful rooms of the medieval dwelling, which was acquired by family Visconti di Modrone from family Anguissola. For more info, see the official website grazzanovisconti.com-
+39 351 2778162
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Saturdays and Sundays all day and Wednesday and Friday afternoonsIn via Anna Visconti (near the Nord car park) guided visits at the weekend between 10 am and 7 pm. During the week also on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Entrance ticket.-
+ 39 393 7128100
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Piazza Guido ViscontiA pretty little chapel designed by Count Giuseppe Visconti di Modrone, built at the beginning of 1930 in perfect neo-mediaeval style.
Grandi Giardini ItalianiThe historic park of the castle of Grazzano Visconti belongs to the circuit of the Grandi giardini italiani. The park covers 15 hectares and there are guided visits at certain times of the year.-
+39 351 277 8162
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In the Cortevecchia of Grazzano Visconti, under the portico of an old haybarn, agricultural equipment is on display.
Old FarmyardWithin the village of Grazzano Visconti is the Cortevecchia, at one time the farmyard, with stables and barns and a central threshing floor. Today, it is used as an exhibition area and for the Museum of Traditional Peasant Agricultural Equipment.
The parish church dedicated to the Saints Cosmas and Damian lies at the end of the avenue leading from the central piazza del Biscione.
Piazza Gian Galeazzo ViscontiLooking on to the Piazza del Biscione, the Palazzo dell' Istituzione housed the craft school - scuola di Arti e Mestieri. It is easily recognised thanks to its campanile and its appearance, similar to that of a mediaeval town hall.
In 1395 Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, authorised his sister Beatrice, married to the Piacenza nobleman Giovanni Anguissola, to build a castle on their property at Grazzano.-
+39 351 2778162
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