Paderna Castle is located in the Po Valley in the province of Piacenza, a few kilometres from Pontenure.
The building dates back to the 11th century. Ceded in 1453 by the monks of San Savino to the nobleman Melchiorre Marazzani, it was made into a fully efficient fortress for defence, residential and agricultural purposes.
The castrense complex has a square shape. It is divided by a transverse wall into an older residential part to the east and an agricultural part to the west. Characteristic of the Castle of Paderna are the inner courtyards, the entrance tower and the tower in the water, so called because of the presence on two sides of the moat, still filled with water. Of great artistic interest is the Romanesque chapel.
Today it is a manor house and organic farm.
The Castle is open to the public: for individual visitors on holidays from the end of April to the end of September, all year round for groups by appointment. It is closed in August.
Guided tours are included in the entrance fee.
The castle is part of the Association of Castles of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza and Pontremoli.
Today the castle also hosts ceremonies and private events. It has also been home for several years to an important national event dedicated to floriculture called Frutti del castello.
