Torricella Castle

The Castello della Torricella stands on the hills of Ventoso, a few kilometers from Scandiano, in a panoramic and strategic position.

The fortification was built after 1335 by the Da Fogliano family, one of the most important feudal houses of the Reggio territory. In the following century, with the rise of the Boiardo family as lords of Scandiano, the castle was transformed into an elegant noble summer residence.
Local tradition holds that Matteo Maria Boiardo composed part of his poetic masterpiece, Orlando Innamorato, in this very place, reinforcing the deep bond between the castle and the cultural history of the Emilian Renaissance.

During the 19th century, the Torricella underwent a reconstruction in Neo-Medieval style by Modenese architect Cesare Costa, who is also known for designing the Teatro Municipale Valli in Reggio Emilia.
The project aimed to restore an appearance to the complex that was coherent with its original medieval defensive function.

Of particular interest is the entrance portal, topped by an overhang supported by corbels (beccatelli), typical of 14th-century military architecture.
Beside the portal, the deep vertical grooves of the drawbridge and a defensive loophole (feritoia) remain clearly visible, elements testifying to the ancient system of access and protection.

The castle develops across three levels and is completed by a tower with Ghibelline merlons, which strongly characterizes its profile and reinforces its fortified character.

Because of its historical and symbolic value, the Castello della Torricella, like that of Canossa, is recognized as a National Monument, representing one of the most significant examples of hilltop castle architecture in the Scandiano area.