Near Milan hides a magical place, protected by spells to keep Muggles out. In fact, this hamlet hides a medieval castle that is very reminiscent of the famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Just an hour or so from the Lombard capital, you can immerse yourself in a village that looks like something out of one of J.K.Rowling’s books and stroll through the quaint streets of the one that reminds you precisely of Hogsmade.
The village of Grazzano Visconti will transport you to a world of wizards and witches thanks to its majestic castle and small stores nestled among the ancient ruins of its streets. Thanks to its medieval atmosphere, themed events are often organized here, such as Harry Potter-themed quizzes inside the castle, the sorting ceremony in the various houses, and even magical trails.
What to do in Grazzano Visconti
Definitely, one of the activities to do in this village is to visit the castle, which was built in 1395 by Giovanni Anguissola after his marriage to Beatrice Visconti, sister of the Duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti. Warning. To enter the castle, you need a lett. reservation, which can be made on their website.
Put on your cloak and get your wand ready, it’s back to Hogwarts.
If you’re a true lover of the Harry Potter saga, you can’t fail to drop by the Haunted Emporium, where pens write themselves and books move among the shelves waiting to be chosen. This store is a true paradise for fans of the saga, who can get lost for hours among the various sections of the store. Chocolates, Butterbeer, uniforms, wands and everything for Quidditch, it can certainly be said that the Sorcerer’s Emporium is the best-stocked store in Diagon Halley.
Occasionally then, especially on summer evenings, there are atmospheric concerts held in the castle gardens that are made even more magical by the medieval backdrop.
How to get there and other information
Grazzano Visconti is located in the municipality of Vigolzone, in the Nure Valley, just 14 kilometers from Piacenza. Reaching it is really very easy, especially if you travel by car. The journey time is about an hour or so. The castle area has paid parking lots that start at about 4€.
Finally, a bit of trivia: the village is one of the few examples of revivalist architecture, where every detail is designed to recreate the atmosphere of an authentic medieval village, despite the fact that the design of its construction, and thus most of its buildings, date back only to 1900.