Pastimes in Rocca: music and games in the castle
The castle is full of references to music, arts and entertainment
General view (18th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Place par-excellence of the entertainment at court was the Reception Hall or Music Hall, in the piano nobile of the castle.
The harpsichord (18th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The highlight of the furniture is the seventeenth-Century harpsichord, restored to its former glory after a skilful restoration work that interested both the wooden part and the mechanical part.
Today the harpsichord, coming from the ancient court theatre situated in the park, has returned to produce its melody.
Imagine the laughs of the children who have lived in the castle and the melodies coming from the ancient instruments.
The keyboard (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
Its construction is peculiar because during the time the right side was widened so as to add keys and then acute sounds.
Organ (17th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The music echoed in the San Carlo Borromeo Oratory, too, thanks to the organ placed in the upper tribune, unusual because of its tin reeds, that ensured high quality to the instrument.
The puppet theater (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The entertainment at court was not only made with music. The puppet theatre of austrian manufacture came to Fontanellato through the Duchess Maria Luigia and is still conserved in the castle...
... with its sets...
... and as many as 24 small puppets.
The Theater (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
The puppet theatre and its stories interested adults and children and witnessed the passion of the Sanvitale for performances and theatre.
The ceiling in the Billiard RoomRocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
To animate the meetings with guests was also the game of billiard...
The scoreboard (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
... of which point matches were organized...
General view (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
... playing often sitting comfortably on the sofas.
The gate to the garden (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
During the good season, adults and children could pass the wonderful gate in the courtyard...
The ghibelline battlements (15th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
... and enter the "viale della Rocca"...
The roof garden in spring (21st Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
... today known as "Giardino pensile" (roof-garden), that faces south and overlooks the village.
Optical chamber (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
From here they could enter one of the most fascinating places in the castle, the Optical Room...
Optical chamber: inside view (19th Century)Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato
... that was at the same time the scientific experiment of a Count fond of photography, the entertainment of the ladies and a beautiful game for the children.
