The Canossa Castle was probably founded in the mid-10th century by Adalberto Atto. We still do not know which structures exactly made up the complex he built but it is likely that it centered on a modest fortified residence and on what would later become the prosperous Benedictine monastery of Sant'Apollonio. The remains of the Canossa Castle rise above a white sandstone cliff, reduced to a limited portion of the once fortified area due to the flaking of the ground. The surrounding landscape features and historical memories make them a place of extraordinary charm. Canossa's fame is linked to the historic meeting which took place on January 27, 1077, the date on which Pope Gregory VII absolved the emperor Henry IV from excommunication in the presence of the countess Matilda and the abbot Hugh of Cluny. On the site there is the Naborre Campanini museum, which houses finds from the excavations of the castle carried out in the years 1877 and 1893. The objects contained in the museum focus on several themes: from the figure of Matilda and her era, to the history of archaeological excavations, to nature trail.