Bornato Castle

Bornato Castle, locally known as Castello di Bornato, lies next to the village of the same name, in the Brescia province in the Lombardy region in Italy.

The first fortification at this site was a Roman castrum built to control the consular road linking Brescia and Bergamo.

In 1270, Inverardo da Bornato, a lord and condottiero (captain of a mercenary company), expanded and strengthened the stronghold with a, somewhat rectangular, circuit of 300 meters of crenelated walls, with towers and buttresses, moats and a drawbridge. Its present appearance mostly dates back to that time. Apparently the castle was visited by Dante Alighieri, the famous Italian writer.

After the Lord of Milan, Azzone Visconti, invaded the area, Bornato Castle fell into decline due to the Visconti attacks. This period of decline lasted until 1562 when the castle became property of the Gandini family through inheritance. The Gandinis then had a Renaissance villa built inside the castle walls. This villa is now called the Villa Orlando, named after the family who now owns it since 1930.

For centuries, the cellars of the castle were used to produce wine. This lasted until the early 2000s.

Bornato Castle can be visited for a fee, but only on appointment and by groups. So, as I was travelling solo, I had to be content with viewing its nice exterior only. In neighboring villages you can find the castles of Passirano and Oldofredi.

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