Canossa Castle
The ruins of a castle on a white sandstone crag in the hills of Reggio Emilia, with a small museum.
The story
In January 1077 Emperor Henry IV, excommunicated by Pope Gregory VII, waited three days outside the castle, barefoot in the snow and dressed as a penitent, to obtain forgiveness. The pope was the guest of Countess Matilda of Canossa, one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. Ever since, «going to Canossa» has meant humbling yourself and asking for forgiveness.
Why go
A place that gave half of Europe an expression, with a view over the Matildic hills and the plain.
In the itineraries
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Weather forecast
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
Getting there
- By train. The nearest station is Ciano d’Enza station, 4.3 km away. Alternatively: Ciano Via Tedaldo da Canossa station, 4.5 km away. From the station you need a bus, a taxi or a car.
- By air. The nearest airport is Parma Airport (PMF), about 30 km away; with more flights, Bologna Airport (BLQ) is about 66 km away.
- Parking. There are 3 signposted car parks within a kilometre; the nearest is 250 m away.
Stations, ports, airports and car parks from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); distances as the crow flies. Timetables and connections change: check them before you travel.
Climate month by month
The most pleasant months for weather are from May to June and from September to October, with average highs between 18 and 29 °C. From July to August it is hot: average highs exceed 30 °C. In January night-time temperatures drop below freezing on average. The wettest month is May (about 82 mm), the driest July.
| Month | Temperature | High / low | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | from -1 to 7 °C | 7° -1° | 39 |
| Feb | from 1 to 10 °C | 10° 1° | 58 |
| Mar | from 2 to 13 °C | 13° 2° | 43 |
| Apr | from 6 to 17 °C | 17° 6° | 42 |
| May | from 10 to 21 °C | 21° 10° | 82 |
| Jun | from 15 to 28 °C | 28° 15° | 50 |
| Jul | from 19 to 32 °C | 32° 19° | 30 |
| Aug | from 18 to 31 °C | 31° 18° | 40 |
| Sep | from 14 to 25 °C | 25° 14° | 54 |
| Oct | from 9 to 20 °C | 20° 9° | 76 |
| Nov | from 4 to 13 °C | 13° 4° | 77 |
| Dec | from 1 to 9 °C | 9° 1° | 50 |
Averages for 2015–2024, estimated for an altitude of 511 m. Air: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), corrected for the altitude of the place; rain: average monthly total. These are indicative values: the weather on any given day can be very different, so always check the forecast before you go.
Nearby
- Torrechiara CastleHistory and art · 17 km as the crow flies
- ★ Pietra di BismantovaNature · 18 km as the crow flies
- ParmaTown · 27 km as the crow flies
- ★ Salse di NiranoNature · 30 km as the crow flies
- Maranello and the Enzo Ferrari MuseumHistory and art · 33 km as the crow flies
- BrescelloTown · 36 km as the crow flies
← See it on the map with all 27 placesGuide to Emilia-Romagna