Trezzo sull'Adda Castle

Trezzo sull'Adda Castle

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

At Trezzo the Adda river makes a sharp bend, forming a kind of elongated and elevated peninsula. Since prehistoric times, this peninsula hosted a Celtic settlement. The first fortifications here are attributed to the Lombards, who inhabited the site from the 7th century onwards.

At the end of the 13th century, the Visconti family became Lords of Milan. In 1355 the brothers Galeazzo II and Bernabò Visconti divided up their territory, whereby Trezzo went to Bernabò.

Between 1370 and 1377 Trezzo sull'Adda Castle was built by Bernabò to strengthen his position. It was built on the isthmus of the peninsula and consisted of a rectangular fortification with a 42 m high square keep in front of it. Also, casemates were constructed under the walls along the 2 sides of the castle, parallel to the course of the river, partly excavated in the rock. The castle also guarded a new single-arch bridge over the river, built at the same time, on its east side.

In 1383 Bernabò was deposed by his nephew Gian Galeazzo Visconti. Gian then imprisoned Bernabò in the castle, where Bernabò died a few months later, presumably poisoned.

Gian, by then Duke of Milan, died in 1402 which caused a crisis in his duchy. Trezzo sull'Adda was then occupied by Paolo Colleoni. Gian's son; Filippo Maria Visconti, had the castle besieged in 1416. During that siege, the bridge next to the castle was destroyed.

No work was done at the castle during the following centuries. It finally lost its military importance in 1797 when the Adda river ceased to be a border, due to the unification of the territories of Milan and Venice. After that, it probably fell to ruin.

In the 19th century the castle became a quarry for building material. Decorative elements were transferred to the Royal Villa of Monza and remnants of the destroyed bridge were transferred to Milan where they were used in the Arena Civica. At the end of the 20th century, the local municipality acquired the castle and started to restore it.

Today Trezzo sull'Adda Castle is situated in a public park which is freely accessible. For a fee you can visit the casemates and the interior of the keep, which you can climb to the top. Sadly enough, this was all closed when I came by. A very nice castle ruin.

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Trezzo sull'Adda Castle

Trezzo sull'Adda Castle

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

At Trezzo the Adda river makes a sharp bend, forming a kind of elongated and elevated peninsula. Since prehistoric times, this peninsula hosted a Celtic settlement. The first fortifications here are attributed to the Lombards, who inhabited the site from the 7th century onwards.

At the end of the 13th century, the Visconti family became Lords of Milan. In 1355 the brothers Galeazzo II and Bernabò Visconti divided up their territory, whereby Trezzo went to Bernabò.

Between 1370 and 1377 Trezzo sull'Adda Castle was built by Bernabò to strengthen his position. It was built on the isthmus of the peninsula and consisted of a rectangular fortification with a 42 m high square keep in front of it. Also, casemates were constructed under the walls along the 2 sides of the castle, parallel to the course of the river, partly excavated in the rock. The castle also guarded a new single-arch bridge over the river, built at the same time, on its east side.

In 1383 Bernabò was deposed by his nephew Gian Galeazzo Visconti. Gian then imprisoned Bernabò in the castle, where Bernabò died a few months later, presumably poisoned.

Gian, by then Duke of Milan, died in 1402 which caused a crisis in his duchy. Trezzo sull'Adda was then occupied by Paolo Colleoni. Gian's son; Filippo Maria Visconti, had the castle besieged in 1416. During that siege, the bridge next to the castle was destroyed.

No work was done at the castle during the following centuries. It finally lost its military importance in 1797 when the Adda river ceased to be a border, due to the unification of the territories of Milan and Venice. After that, it probably fell to ruin.

In the 19th century the castle became a quarry for building material. Decorative elements were transferred to the Royal Villa of Monza and remnants of the destroyed bridge were transferred to Milan where they were used in the Arena Civica. At the end of the 20th century, the local municipality acquired the castle and started to restore it.

Today Trezzo sull'Adda Castle is situated in a public park which is freely accessible. For a fee you can visit the casemates and the interior of the keep, which you can climb to the top. Sadly enough, this was all closed when I came by. A very nice castle ruin.

Gallery

Details
Hits: 1011