Bardi Castle, located in the Ceno Valley in the province of Parma, is one of the oldest fortresses in Italy, with origins dating back to at least 898 AD.
Its name derives from the contraction of the word “Longobardi” and was initially built thanks to Berengario del Friuli.
Its strategic position on a rocky spur made it an important point of defense and refuge, especially during the Hungarian invasions of the Po Valley.
In 1257, the castle came under the control of the Landi family, who governed it for about four centuries. During this period, the Landi allied themselves with other noble families through strategic marriages, thus consolidating their power and creating a true “Principality Landi” that also obtained the right to mint coins.
The fortress underwent numerous renovations and expansions, including the construction of a library and a historical archive.
However, in 1682, the castle was sold to Ranuccio II Farnese, marking the beginning of a slow decline in its importance. With the extinction of the Farnese family in 1731 and subsequent changes of ownership, the castle was used as a military prison during the 19th century and later as the seat of public offices after the unification of Italy.
Legends and Ghosts
Bardi Castle is known not only for its history but also for the legends that surround it. One of the most famous is that of Moroello and Soleste, a tragic love story that took place between the 15th and 16th centuries. Moroello, commander of the castle’s troops, fell in love with the young Soleste, who was promised in marriage to another man. After a long period of secret love, Moroello left for war; when Soleste saw the enemies approaching the castle, she believed he was dead and committed suicide. Moroello, returning victorious but unaware of the tragedy, took his own life. It is said that their spirits still wander the castle in search of peace.
This legend has attracted visitors interested not only in history but also in paranormal phenomena; in 1995 mysterious apparitions were reported inside the fortress.
GIPSI Files have paranormal investigated the legendary Bardi Castle three separate times. All types of different spirits live there! We’ve had two monumental personal experiences seeing an apparition in a Knight ensemble walking down the steps near the Palace, and a nine-foot shadow figure towering over our group at the end of the investigation making themselves known. We have recorded several EVP from the spirits peacefully talking to us throughout the castle, and some are not so nice trying to sway our opinion of the afterlife. You will see our experiences in the future. Hint: The spirits love the Towers there. Experience your own paranormal adventures that this epic castle offers through our agency.
