What to do and see in Province of Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna: The Best History Museums

Halfway between Reggio Emilia and Parma, the Castle of Montecchio Emilia dominates the town historic centre. The beautiful building lies on a place inhabited since the Roman and Barbarian ages, but its first fortified structure dates back to the XIIth Century. The earliest walls rise on a burial ground, along the valley of the river Enza. Its strategic position allows the Fortress to serve as a military post and a symbol of power. During the centuries, the Castle of Montecchio passes from the hands of the archbishop of Parma and his allies Vicedomini, to the hands of important families such as Visconti. During the XVth Century the town falls under the dominion of the Este; in 1562 Don Alfonso d'Este obtains the title of Marquisate for the town and the Castle becomes a noble residence. The Este rule Montecchio Emilia until the unification of Italy in 1861. From the late XVIIIth Century up to the 1960 the Castle serves as a local prison.

The north side of the Ducal Palace in Guastalla hosts the Quadreria Maldotti, a selection of about fifty paintings belonging to the collection of the historical Maldotty Library. The exhibition aims to focus the attention of the spectator on the formation of the collection over the time, showing the link between the paintings with the territory and the history of the collectionism in Guastalla's area. The frame is the beautiful Ducal Palace, the most representative monument of the town. The building tells a long and complex story about sovranity. Build at the beginning of 16th cenury as new dwelling of Torello's counts, with the advent of Gonzaga family in 1539, it becomes a royal residence. Recently passed to public propriety, it has been object of important renovation's works.