ROSSENA AND THE LEGEND OF EVERELINA

Next to the cliff of Canossa, in a landscape characterised by red ophiolite, the fortress of Rossena and its neighbouring tower of Rossenella stand out on the horizon. Rossena wasthe defensive stronghold of the dynasty of Canossa, within the system of fortifications of Enza Valley. Here, in the rooms of Rossena’s castle, the ghosts of an ancient legend stilllive on: it’s the story of the young Everelina, daughter of one of the vassal of Matilda of Tuscany, who for escaping the marriage with a man she did not love, chose to take her life by jumping from the high cliff. Still today the rocks at the bottom of castle’s walls, remindthis story of love and death to the passersby that people from the neighbouring villagepass on from centuries.
In more recent years, other powerful women have left their marks in the castle, whichwith the time passing became a private residence: Maria Luigia duchess of Parma and princess Adelgonda of Bavaria, wife of Francesco V d’Este, Duke of Modena.