At a distance of less than 1 ml two fortresses look one another.

Placed at the border between Parma and Reggio territories on the left bank of the Enza river there is the castle of Montechiarugolo [see], on the right bank the military fortress of Montecchio.
The fortress of Montecchio is not only a castle, but also (as the “castelli e corti reggiane” guide says) a “time machine”.
During the visit from the Carolingian necropolis (8th – 10th century) you reach nearly these days with the graffiti of the prison of the last World War.
Observing the walls you could notice the passing of the years, from the stone to the earthenware testifying the passage from the defensive purpose to the residential use.

A short history:
The area was inhabited since the prehistory as testified by the Neolithic finds.
During the recent restoration the Carolingian necropolis was discovered and part of its remains is still buried.
The exact date of the first building is unknown.
The first primary evidence dates back to 1114, in a document signed by Matilde di Canossa.
Occupied by the city-state of Parma, at half 11th century it passed to the Vicedomini who possessed it until 1348, when it was remised to the
Visconti.
In 1486 it entered into the Este possessions. Under the reign of Luigi I Este, began in 1638, it was restored and modified and, among other things, the moat covered over.

For more info:
comune montecchio emilia il castello
Castello_di_Montecchio_Emilia
Matilde_di_Canossa