Rocca di San Giorgio: A Historic Fortress and Noble Residence in San Giorgio Piacentino

Visitor Information

Google Rating: 4.1

Popularity: Very Low

Google Maps: View on Google Maps

Official Website: www.roccadisangiorgio.com

Country: Italy

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

The Rocca di San Giorgio is located in the municipality of San Giorgio Piacentino, Italy. It was built in the late 16th century by the San Giorgio branch of the noble Anguissola family. Its design is sometimes credited to the notable architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, reflecting the military and residential architecture styles of the period.

The fortress remained under the Anguissola family’s ownership until 1630, concluding with the death of Cesare Albano. Shortly afterward, control passed to the Farnese ducal authorities. From 1631 to 1635, the fortress was leased to Alessandro Bacchini, a military captain serving Duke Odoardo I Farnese, after which it reverted fully to Farnese administration.

In 1637, the extensive San Giorgio fief, including the fortress, was acquired by Marquis Fabio Scotti of Castelbosco for 12,000 lire. Fabio Scotti, who later earned the title Count of San Giorgio, began transforming the structure from a military stronghold into a summer residence, carrying out restoration works that softened its defensive character.

A lengthy inheritance dispute arose in 1676 between Fabio’s son Annibale Scotti and his nephew Antonio Maria Scotti, concerning possession of the fief and its properties, including the fortress. The conflict was legally resolved in 1740 when judges allocated half of the fief to Antonio Maria’s descendants, though they assumed control only in 1762.

In the latter part of the 18th century, architect Lotario Tomba carried out modifications to the Rocca. His additions introduced new roof elements that brought greater visual movement to the structure, although these changes diverged from its original design. The Rocca’s nearby agricultural buildings were also altered in 1830 by Antonio Tomba, Lotario’s nephew, who added extensive porticos to barns and constructed greenhouses flanking the estate.

Throughout the 19th century, the fortress was owned by Count Paolo Scotti, who enhanced the grounds with a surrounding defensive wall enclosing a park. The property passed through his daughter Clelia to her husband, General Ferdinando Negri della Torre, and later transferred by dowry to Count Guido Gazzola of Settima. The Gazzola family held possession into the early 20th century.

Remains

The Rocca di San Giorgio presents a rare architectural fusion within the Piacenza region, blending the characteristics of a fortified castle and an elegant noble residence. The building is arranged on a square plan, each side measuring approximately 15 meters. Its walls are composed of brick and stone, designed with a slight outward slope at the base, which originally protected a surrounding moat now filled in.

The main entryway is situated on the northwest façade, raised above the forecourt and reached by a drawbridge connected to a stone bridge structure. At each of the fortress’s four corners, just below the roofline, round turrets project outward, supported by masonry corbels. These corner towers, along with the octagonal lantern crowning the dome, were originally sheathed with copper and lead sheets, emphasizing both defensive and decorative purposes.

Within the Rocca, a central spiral staircase made of stone steps and equipped with an iron balustrade connects all floors, including subterranean levels and the lantern chamber. This staircase was recorded in documentation dating to 1637, signaling its importance for vertical circulation and access to the panoramic lantern which features a window on each of its eight sides.

The interior spaces include representative halls adorned with frescoes painted by the Milanese artist Felice Biella. These artistic decorations contribute to the residence’s noble character while reflecting tastes contemporary to the 17th century.

Surrounding agricultural structures associated with the Rocca underwent significant modifications in 1830 under Antonio Tomba. These updates involved the construction of long porticos attached to the barns and the erection of two greenhouses placed to the east and west, integrating functional improvements to the estate’s farming operations.

The grounds encompass an English-style garden developed during the same period, adding a landscaped element to the estate’s environment. At the entrance to the complex, two neo-Gothic turrets were installed in 1890 atop the barn terraces, contributing architectural accents that blend historicist styles with the site’s longstanding heritage.