Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Zavattarello Castle, also known as Dal Verme Castle, is a fortress overlooking the town of Zavattarello in the province of Pavia. Fully restored and open to visitors, it hosts numerous events, such as the Medieval Days and the Mystery Tour, is a wedding venue, and houses a museum. The castle, built of stone, has a compact structure with walls reaching a maximum thickness of almost 4 meters. Built on a hill north of the town, the tower affords sweeping views of the Oltrepò Pavese and the Tidone Valley, all the way to the Po Valley. Equipped with a fortified shelter, chapel, and stables, it comprises about forty rooms divided into a unique system of separate levels, connected by several secondary internal staircases. From the terrace and tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area: the countryside, the woods, and the hills, along with the other castles in the area: Verde Castle, Montalto Pavese Castle, Torre degli Alberi Castle (Ruino), Pietragavina Castle, and Rocca de' Giorgi Castle. A better view was provided by other watchtowers, now lost, for defensive purposes. The imposing fortress overlooks the ancient village perched on the hill, which was once completely devoid of vegetation to allow the castle's defenders to spot any intruders. Today, however, the greenery surrounding the castle is a protected area, a Local Park of Supramunicipal Interest (Archived January 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine). It covers approximately 79 hectares. The fortified fortress was home to one of Europe's leading war schools, founded by Jacopo Dal Verme in what would later become the cornerstone of the Vermesco State.
Zavattarello Castle, also known as Dal Verme Castle, is a fortress overlooking the town of Zavattarello in the province of Pavia. Fully restored and open to visitors, it hosts numerous events, such as the Medieval Days and the Mystery Tour, is a wedding venue, and houses a museum. The castle, built of stone, has a compact structure with walls reaching a maximum thickness of almost 4 meters. Built on a hill north of the town, the tower affords sweeping views of the Oltrepò Pavese and the Tidone Valley, all the way to the Po Valley. Equipped with a fortified shelter, chapel, and stables, it comprises about forty rooms divided into a unique system of separate levels, connected by several secondary internal staircases. From the terrace and tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area: the countryside, the woods, and the hills, along with the other castles in the area: Verde Castle, Montalto Pavese Castle, Torre degli Alberi Castle (Ruino), Pietragavina Castle, and Rocca de' Giorgi Castle. A better view was provided by other watchtowers, now lost, for defensive purposes. The imposing fortress overlooks the ancient village perched on the hill, which was once completely devoid of vegetation to allow the castle's defenders to spot any intruders. Today, however, the greenery surrounding the castle is a protected area, a Local Park of Supramunicipal Interest (Archived January 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine). It covers approximately 79 hectares. The fortified fortress was home to one of Europe's leading war schools, founded by Jacopo Dal Verme in what would later become the cornerstone of the Vermesco State.
