Weekend in Gropparello
A jump into the fascinating history of Gropparello Castle
Photo by Alessandro Mariani
A particularly pleasant place for families to spend a day in an unexpected era.
From children’s entertainment to historical reenactments, from the castle’s majesty to the immense field and forest ideal for picnics, this location more than any other offers medieval fun. It’s in this enchanted forest that kids can visit fairytale characters such as princesses, knights, wizards and ogres.
As soon as you reach Gropparello castle, you’ll find yourself in front of a small, but significant example of how our historic and cultural heritage can, and should, be portrayed. Even though the fortress itself isn’t decorated, at least not the part that’s visible to the public, there’s a kind, welcoming atmosphere granted by guides who perfectly know how to relate to both children and adults, all the while explaining the most interesting details and curiosities about the place their visiting. Around midday, after having visited the castle and surrounding grounds, you can have a picnic in the field or you can reserve a table for 1€ at the entrance, a good idea during sunny weekends when some shade would be welcome.
There’s only one bar on the castle grounds, so it might get real crowded real fast, but it’s only a slight annoyance that’s perfectly acceptable considering the beauty of the whole experience. The service is always excellent, and the staff are always obliging to help guests in any way they can.
As soon as you reach Gropparello castle, you’ll find yourself in front of a small, but significant example of how our historic and cultural heritage can, and should, be portrayed. Even though the fortress itself isn’t decorated, at least not the part that’s visible to the public, there’s a kind, welcoming atmosphere granted by guides who perfectly know how to relate to both children and adults, all the while explaining the most interesting details and curiosities about the place their visiting. Around midday, after having visited the castle and surrounding grounds, you can have a picnic in the field or you can reserve a table for 1€ at the entrance, a good idea during sunny weekends when some shade would be welcome.
There’s only one bar on the castle grounds, so it might get real crowded real fast, but it’s only a slight annoyance that’s perfectly acceptable considering the beauty of the whole experience. The service is always excellent, and the staff are always obliging to help guests in any way they can.
Battles, fairytales and adventure for an absolutely magical day
Photo by Alessandro Mariani
In all this history, there’s also a great deal of spectacle: a knight leads children on an adventure, that lasts about an hour, where children are given a quest to defeat the witches and ogres that live in the forest. It’s an amazing event that lets children’s imaginations run wild, where they get to enthusiastically take on the role of heroes. Equipped with capes, swords and sheathes, children follow the story with Guglielmo the knight as he meets wonderfully realized characters like witches, druids, fairies and woodsmen. It all leads up to an epic battle to defeat the evil ogre that’s roaming the forest. The refreshing nature that surrounds the area is the perfect stage for the wonder and fun to come.
There are also small, medieval themed laboratories that younger children can attend to learn how life used to be.
There are also small, medieval themed laboratories that younger children can attend to learn how life used to be.
When you visit Gropparello you can decide to either spend half the day in the forest, and the other half visiting the ancient nearby structures, or go for the “full package” and participate in every planned event until late afternoon.
This is a particularly good place for families to visit, imagine, and relax with the knowledge that their kids will be given a show that they won’t soon forget.
This is a particularly good place for families to visit, imagine, and relax with the knowledge that their kids will be given a show that they won’t soon forget.
