VISIT TO THE MALAVILLA MUSEUM
Guided tour of Malavilla with a tasting
An exclusive journey to discover a well-preserved
15th-century fortified building. Starting from the Rocca, a pleasant walk through the estate’s farmland will take you to Malavilla: a journey through time and the rural history of our Apennines.
The Visit
A visit to the Malavilla Fortified House offers a deep immersion in the history, architecture, and landscape of the Castrignano Valley. Accompanied by our stories, you’ll set out on foot from the Rocca for a short and picturesque walk through the farm’s fields, until you find yourself standing before this extraordinary example of rural fortified architecture. A unique opportunity to gain insight into the life, defense strategies, and rural self-sufficiency of the past, combining the pleasure of a walk with the authenticity of our region.
The Story
Dating back to the 15th century, the Malavilla Fortified House is one of the rarest examples of small-scale fortified architecture in our Apennines, designed around two absolute imperatives: defense and self-sufficiency. Upon observation, one is struck by its austere forms built of local stone, its massive walls, and its ancient arrowslits. The interior reveals an ingenious layout: the ground floor served as shelter for animals, whose body heat rose to warm the historic “fire room” on the upper floor, connected by trapdoors and strategically placed staircases. Within its walls, precious details survive, such as the carved stone troughs and the rare charcoal markings left by those who have tended these lands over the centuries. A philological restoration has restored this place to its original integrity, transforming it into a “diffused museum.”
The cheese tasting at La Rocca
Your visit to Malavilla can be complemented by an educational tasting in the gardens of the Rocca di Valle di Castrignano, featuring our Parmigiano Reggiano made with milk from the Appennine Gray Cow.
The tasting is held at the Rocca di Valle di Castrignano, where Elena will explain how to tell the difference between the various aging levels and share all the secrets to recognizing an excellent Parmigiano Reggiano.
