Emilia Romagna Castles

North of Parma, Colorno is located at the point where the Parma river receives its waters from the Lorno canal.

Colorno is dominated by the majestic Royal Palace, known as the small Versailles della Bassa, once the residence of the Farnese family and later of the Bourbons, families of which this building still bears the signs of their splendour.

This palace, called Castello dei Parmensi, has existed since the twelfth century, when it then became a fief of the Da Correggio and finally of the Sanseverino, who transformed the fortress into an elegant residence. The period of its greatest splendor was when it became the summer residence of the Dukes of Parma earning the name of "small Versailles". 

The Royal Palace was once the residence of the Farnese family and subsequently of the Bourbons. The current appearance of the building, polygonal and porticoed, is the result of numerous interventions that transformed the previous fortress into a residence. The Royal Palace, surrounded by a park recently restored to its original splendor, is now home to important art exhibitions and outdoor events. And within the walls of the Royal Palace is the headquarters of ALMA The International School of Italian Cuisine which offers advanced training courses in the heart of the Food Valley and close to Parma which in 2015 received the title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. 

In addition to the splendid Royal Palace in Colorno there are small important monuments such as the Aranciaia, now home to the Ethnographic Museum of Peasant Civilization; the Church of San Liborio; and the Church of Santa Margherita of Gothic origin. Colorno is also located along the Road of "Culatello di Zibello", a local meat.

Every year in September The International Festival of contemporary circus, theatre and dance Tutti matti per Colorno and every year in the beautiful reggia the photo exhibition ColornoPhotoLife.

About 15 km from Colorno, in the province of Reggio Emilia, you can visit the pretty town of Don Camillo and Peppone: Brescello. The town is located very close to the great river Po and it is here that the films inspired by the stories of Giovannino Guareschi were set, starring Don Camillo and Peppone.