Rocca Sanvitale

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The Rocca Sanvitale or Sanvitale Castle, is a remarkable fortress residence located in the town of Fontanalleta, near Parma, Italy. Construction of the moated block, accessible through a drawbridge, was begun in 1200s, mostly completed by 1400s, with embellishments continuing through to the 18th century. It is prototypical of the urban castle-houses of the turbulent towns of Northern Italy. It was the home until the 1930s of the descendants of the Count of Sanvitale. The crennelated walls and asymmetric towers are surrounded by an arcaded town. Adjacent to the castle are gardens and a courtyard. One of the rooms has an optical system in place, that projects to an inside wall a view of the town through mirrors and a prism. It is now a museum. The most famous works inside are the frescoes of Diane and Acteon painted in 1523-24 by Parmigianino for the Count Galeazzo Sanvitale and his wife, Paola Gonzaga.