We had already been to Monticelli to visit the "rocca" (fortress) (see) a few years ago, but the castle was closed and therefore we only walked around the castle.
This time we managed to see both the two museums and the chapel frescoed by the brothers Bonifacio and Benedetto Bembo, a real little jewel.
It must be said that the chapel alone is worth a visit to the castle.
Also interesting are the aquarium, the ethnographic museum of the Po and the museum of rural civilization.

A bit of history:
the frescoes of the chapel:
commissioned by the Bishop of Lodi and feudal lord of Monticelli Carlo Pallavicino around 1460, the frescoes were executed by Bonifacio and Benedetto Bembo and depict various religious subjects.
One in particular, the Last Supper, is thought to have inspired Leonardo for his fresco, located in Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan.
the fortress:
the first mention dates back to the end of the 13th century.
Its construction was begun by Rolando Pallavicino at the beginning of the 15th century and finished by his son Carlo.
It was owned for several years by the Pallavicino family and then passed, through the marriage of an heir, to the Bolognese Casali family.
The Casali family lived there until 1957 when they sold it to the parish of San Lorenzo Martire.

A note:
In 1995 the hill and surrounding areas became part of the Regional Park of the Abbey of Monteveglio, where a number of trails were created to rediscover the natural beauty and savor the ancient history of the area.

Visit information:
Albino Casarola
338 1801426
info@museodelpo.it
www.museodelpo.it

For more info:
wikipedia: Castello di Monticelli d'Ongina
wikipedia: Monticelli d'Ongina
wikipedia: Bonifacio Bembo
wikipedia: Benedetto Bembo
www.borgo-italia.it monticelli d'ongina.php