The Greatest Princely Dynasty You’ve Never Heard Of

Imagine an imposing square castle, the biggest you’ve ever seen, rising up on a shining red column of rock from a valley hidden deep in a green mountain gorge.  From its parapets you can see rivers and mountains and the villages below. The land holdings of the estate are so much that it has been deemed a state unto itself, rivaling Monaco. This is only the main family castle, the headquarters of a family run by three Counts, and formerly by their prince fathers. The castle was born in 898 A.D. when its only admirers were abbots on pilgrimage and the peasants of the valley. In the 12^th century it becomes a fortress, a home for true power lords.

Castello Dei Landi, also known as Bardi Castle, is the crown of the village of Bardi in the valley of Ceno in Northern Italy.  Everything that has ever happened in a good medieval tale has also happened at this castle.

Knights, Counts, Princes, Princesses, Dynasties, dungeons, moats, romance, and religion have played, fought, died, and haunted here. The Maltese Falcon may be hiding within its walls. Buried treasure is for certain hidden here.

More than a century before Shakespeare penned Romeo and Juliet, a similar, but real story of that vein took place at the castle. The daughter of the count of the castle fell madly in love with the captain of the guard, but she had already been promised to one of her father’s friends. The maiden and the captain kept their love a secret, meeting in hidden places. When the knight was called away to battle, the maiden pined for him, watching the valley for his return. One day, she saw an approaching band of knights flying the enemy banner, and thinking this meant her lover had died, threw herself off the parapets to her death. But the knight was not dead, he was flying the enemy flag as a sign of victory. When he discovered her death, he too, killed himself.

The story of this castle, village, state, and the Landi family of Piacenza could fill volumes.