The Visconti Citadel of Bergamo is a

mediaeval 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 period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

fortification in

Bergamo Bergamo (; lmo, Bèrghem ; from the proto- Germanic elements *''berg +*heim'', the "mountain home") is a city in the alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from Switzerland, the alpine lakes Como ...

Lombardy Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...

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 of Milan The Visconti of Milan are a noble Italian family. They rose to power in Milan during the Middle Ages where they ruled from 1277 to 1447, initially as Lords then as Dukes, and several collateral branches still exist. The effective founder of the ...

and later expanded by the Colleoni of Bergamo. It lies in the western sector of the Città Alta (Upper Town).

History

In 1355, after expanding the Visconti domains and in order to consolidate his power on Bergamo, Bernabò Visconti initiated the construction of the Citadel. The Citadel incorporated a pre-existing fortress and a section of the nearby medieval walls. It thus became part of the defensive system of the Città Alta, strengthening the western sector on the San Giovanni hill and integrating the fortification in the eastern sector on Sant'Eufemia hill. The Citadel consisted of an enclosure fortified with towers. It was closed to the north by the ''Hospitio Magnum'', the seat of the military garrison. With the Venetian domination, the defensive strategy of the city changed, and the Citadel was abandoned as a fortress and put up for sale in lots. Mutilations led to the loss of elements of the ancient Visconti structure. Restorations undertaken from 1958 to 1960 began recovering the survived parts: the ancient, fortified nucleus of La Crotta with the imposing Adalberto tower; the ''Hospitio Magnum'' building and the arched

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...

; the tower at the entrance with the Cittadella Clock. The restorations have brought to light the typical Visconti

lozenge Lozenge or losange may refer to: * Lozenge (shape), a type of rhombus *Throat lozenge, a tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to suppress throat ailments *Lozenge (heraldry), a diamond-shaped object that can be placed on the field of ...

decorations and frescoes of the 14th and 15th centuries. Further restorations undertaken from 1985 to 1988 recovered the remains of the Salt tower and other parts of the complex.

Today

The Citadel today hosts municipal services of social and cultural interest, such as the La Crotta public garden, the Civic Museum of Natural Sciences, the Civic Archaeological Museum, the Pocket Theater, the Institute of Geology, and the Montessori Center. Citadella, 14th century; Bergamo (2)

References

Sources

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External links

''Cittadella viscontea – complesso, Bergamo (BG)''''Visit Bergamo, Bergamo official tourism website – Cittadella Viscontea''
{{Visconti of Milan Castles in Lombardy