Binasco Castle

Binasco Castle, locally more commonly known as Castello Visconteo di Binasco, lies in the town of the same name, in the Milan province in the Lombardy region in Italy.

First being mentioned in 1329, Binasco Castle was probably built between 1315 and 1319 by the powerful Visconti family who were Lords of Milan, maybe on the site of an earlier Lombard fortification. Situated on the important road between Milan and Pavia it served to protect Milan from enemy raids.

In 1418 the Duke of Milan; Filippo Maria Visconti, had his wife Beatrice Lascaris di Tenda beheaded in the courtyard of the castle after falsely accusing her of adultery. Possibly Filippo did this because he favoured his younger mistress Agnese del Maino. Even under torture Beatrice denied the accusation. Together with Beatrice, her page, Michele Orombello, who was accused of being her lover and two of her maids, who after being tortured confessed having witnessed the adulterers, were also beheaded.

The castle was attacked by Napoleonic troops in May 1796, after which it was set on fire. In 1869 it was again ravaged by fire and fell to ruin. It was restored in the 20th century.

Originally the rectangular castle would probably have had 4 square corner towers. A wet moat that once surrounded it has now been filled in.

Currently Binasco Castle is used for several municipal functions, like a town hall and library. Its open courtyard can freely be visited during daytime. A nice small castle in a pleasant little town.

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