Discover Soragna: Castle, Garden and Jewish History

Soragna brings together architectural, garden and religious history with a culinary route. For travellers who want their choice of stay to reflect their cultural interests, the town offers everything from the medieval Rocca Meli Lupi to traces of modern Judaism. It also has two religious landmarks and lies at the heart of the Strada del Culatello.

Rocca Meli Lupi and its interiors

The Rocca Meli Lupi is a medieval castle rebuilt in 1385 by Bonifacio and Antonio Lupi. This date marks a specific period in its architectural history and provides a useful point of reference when exploring Soragna’s historic architecture. The interiors also contribute to this picture: the original furnishings and fittings have been preserved there, most of them made and gilded in Venice.

The garden as a distinct historical chapter

The garden adds a distinct chapter in landscape design to the castle’s architectural history. In 1833, Luigi Voghera transformed it into an English landscape garden. This transformation therefore belongs to a different period from the castle’s reconstruction. In the artificial lake lies the Isola dell’Amore, with artificial grottoes adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. For travellers interested in garden design, this part of the Rocca is a highlight in its own right, alongside the historic interiors, and offers a glimpse into the development of the estate.

Jewish history and museum

The Fausto Levi Jewish Museum preserves traces of modern Judaism in the areas of Piacenza and Parma. It is located in the “La Grande Casa delli Hebrei”, which was a Jewish home and housed the synagogue for around 400 years. In this way, the history of a specific building and the story of modern Judaism come together as distinct aspects of the museum. The museum organises visits for tourists and schoolchildren or students. Check the seasonal visiting arrangements before your trip.

Churches and their distinct connections

Soragna’s religious history is also reflected in two distinct landmarks. The Chiesa di San Giacomo houses an organ built by the Serassi brothers in 1803. The Chiesa di Santa Caterina in Diolo, Soragna, on the other hand, was elevated to a sanctuary dedicated to Gesù Adolescente on 24 April 1966. The two dates mark different themes: an instrument in one case and an ecclesiastical designation in the other. This helps distinguish the sites by their respective historical connections.

Culinary connection: Strada del Culatello

The Strada del Culatello offers another perspective: a culinary route with Soragna at its heart. The route area is associated with the production of Culatello di Zibello. It complements Soragna’s cultural and historical themes with a regional culinary connection. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on the castle and garden, Jewish and religious history, or the culinary route.

Discover more destinations: Ozzano Taro, Bedonia, Santa Maria Del Piano, Parma, Sala Baganza, Medesano, Sorbolo, Pannocchia

Go to the main travel overview: Parma.