Castello di San Pietro in Cerro

About the museum

The castle stands in San Pietro in Cerro, in the Bassa Piacentina, and was rebuilt between 1460 and 1491 at the wish of the jurist Bartolomeo Barattieri, ambassador of Piacenza to the court of Pope Julius II. The building leans against a tower already documented in the 13th century; over the centuries the fief passed from the Malaspina to the Landi and, in 1466, to the Barattieri, who obtained the title of counts in 1678.

The structure has a quadrangular plan, with an entrance keep and two round towers on the north side. Outwardly it looks austere, while the porticoed inner courtyard in Renaissance style makes it a noble residence. A particular feature is the two main halls, which arose from the division of the castle between the two branches of the Barattieri family. The basements contain kitchens, laundries and the ice house.

Today the castle belongs to the Spaggiari family, who restored it over more than fifteen years; the work received the Premio Piero Gazzola for the best restoration of Piacenza's monumental heritage in 2016. The route includes the furnished rooms of the piano nobile (main floor), the historic library with over 2,000 volumes, the Sala delle Armi (Armoury Hall) with more than 600 pieces, the exhibition “Cina Millenaria – I Guerrieri di Xian” (“Millennial China: The Warriors of Xi'an”) in the basements, and MiM – Museum in Motion, a contemporary art collection in the attic.

Highlights

• Main halls with painted and carved wooden beamed ceilings
• Sala delle Armi with over 600 pieces of military antiques
• More than forty replicas of the Xi'an terracotta warriors in the basements
• MiM – Museum in Motion, contemporary art collection in the attic
• Historic library with over 2,000 volumes on the history of Piacenza
• Tree-lined park

Founded

1460

Operated by

Famiglia Spaggiari

Admission & discounts

The ticket includes the guided tour of about 1 hour 15 minutes, with the Sala delle Armi, MiM and the exhibition of the Xi'an warriors.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Reduced tickets for children and young people; educational workshops are offered for schools.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

In the castle park is the Locanda del Re Guerriero, an accommodation establishment with an Art Hotel of twelve rooms.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

The castle is available for weddings and events.

Plan your visit