The Visconti Castle of Vogogna is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

stone-made

castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

Vogogna Vogogna is a ''comune'' (municipality) at the heart of the Val d’Ossola in the Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola, Piedmont, Italy, about north-west of Verbania. The municipality (population 1,785 as of 2010)Italian statistical institute Istat. i ...

Piedmont it, Piemontese , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

Northern Italy Northern Italy ( it, Italia settentrionale, it, Nord Italia, label=none, it, Alta Italia, label=none or just it, Nord, label=none) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. It consists of eight administrative regions ...

. It was built in the 14th century by the

Visconti Visconti is a surname which may refer to: Italian noble families * Visconti of Milan, ruled Milan from 1277 to 1447 ** Visconti di Modrone, collateral branch of the Visconti of Milan * Visconti of Pisa and Sardinia, ruled Gallura in Sardinia from ...

, lords and dukes of

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

Location

The town of Vogogna is in the middle of

Val d'Ossola The Ossola (, also Valle Ossola or Val d’Ossola) is an area of Italy situated to the north of Lago Maggiore. It lies within the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Its principal river is the Toce, and its most important town Domodossola. Et ...

. Since the

Early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Mi ...

, a fortification (Vogogna Rocca) existed on the valley's slopes, some hundred meters up from Vogogna. The castle stands on the higher border of the town, in a position where the path leading to the Vogogna Rocca starts.

History

Since the erection of the Vogogna Rocca, probably a rampart defended the path that led to it from the site of the current castle. Here, a rectangular tower controlled the way's access. In the 14th century, the Visconti of Milan built the present castle. A long body, parallel to the way to the Rocca, was added to the west of the rectangular tower. At the end of the new body, toward the town, an imposing semicircular tower was erected. Along the southern side, a fortified wedge-shaped parade ground was added. In 1446,

Filippo Maria Visconti Filippo Maria Visconti (3 September 1392 – 13 August 1447)

granted the castle and its territory to his treasurer

Vitaliano Borromeo Vitaliano I Borromeo (died 1449) was an Italian Ghibelline nobleman from Milan, first Count of Arona. His father was Giacomo Vitaliani, ambassador of Padua to Venice, and his mother Margherita was of the prosperous family of Borromeo. He married ...

, a banker of Tuscan descent. In 1487, the

Sforza The House of Sforza () was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan. They acquired the Duchy of Milan following the extinction of the Visconti family in the mid-15th century, Sforza rule ending in Milan with the death of the last mem ...

confirmed it to the

Borromeo family ), type=Noble family, country=, estates= Rocca d'Angera Palazzo Borromeo, Milan Castel of Peschiera BorromeoBorromean Islands Villa Borromeo, Arcore, titles=* Prince of Angera * Marquess of Romagnano * Count of Arona * Count of Peschiera * Lord ...

. For about three centuries, it remained almost continuously among their possessions. In 1515,

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

troops, supported by men from the upper Val d'Ossola, occupied and damaged the castle. In 1797, the castle passed into French hands during the

Napoleonic era The Napoleonic era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative ...

and then became municipal property. The tower was used as a prison, while the rest of the building as a dwelling and warehouse. In the 20th century, the Vogogna municipality gave increasing attention to the historical importance of the castle. The first restorations date back to 1927. They were completed in 2001.

Today

The castle is open to visitors. It can be reached from the center of Vogogna through its characteristic small streets. The path to the Vogogna Rocca starts along the northern side of the castle. Vogogna 004

References

Sources

* * *

External links

di Vogogna – Castello Visconteo (Sec. XIV)''

turistico dei laghi – Castle in Vogogna''

Italia – Castello Visconteo''

d’Ossola, the Alps you need – Castello Visconteo in Vogogna''
{{Visconti of Milan Castles in Piedmont