The Visconti Rocca of Romano is a rocca in Romano di Lombardia, Bergamo, Lombardy in Northern Italy. It was built in the 13th century and expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries 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 ...

and

Colleoni The House of Colleoni was a Guelf-allied noble family in medieval Bergamo. Their Ghibelline opponents were the Suardi family, of which the Colleoni themselves were a branch. History When the Visconti of Milan seized Bergamo, they exiled the ...

families.

History

The first castle was built in the 13th century at the north-western corner of the fortified village of Romano. The historical documents already mentioned it as La Rocca. It had a quadrangular plan with an internal courtyard and was surrounded by a large moat connected to the town's walls. Its original layout has remained substantially unchanged until today. In the first half of the 14th century,

Azzone Visconti Azzone Visconti (7 December 1302 – 16 August 1339) was lord of Milan from 1329 until his death. After the death of his uncle, Marco Visconti, he was threatened with excommunication and had to submit to Pope John XXII. Azzone reconstituted his fa ...

lord of Milan The following is a list of rulers of Milan from the 13th century to 1814, after which it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia by the Congress of Vienna. Before elevation to duchy Until 1259, Milan was a free commune that ele ...

, strengthened the castle. He added two other towers to the single tower of the south-eastern corner at the north-eastern and south-western corners. In 1428, when Romano passed under the Venetian rule, the towers were equipped with protruding apparatus.

Bartolomeo Colleoni Bartolomeo Colleoni (; 1400 – 2 November 1475) was an Italian condottiero, who became captain-general of the Republic of Venice. Colleoni "gained reputation as the foremost tactician and disciplinarian of the 15th century".''Websters New B ...

, who became lord of Romano in 1448 as supreme commander of the Venice troops, transformed the southern wing of the castle and created a large reception room (the ''Sala Grande'') on the first floor of the western wing. He also raised the external loggia on the side of the south-western tower. During the 17th century, a new tower was added at the north-western corner. The walls of the primitive castle are partly built with river pebbles arranged in a herringbone pattern or mixed with brick courses. The towers of the Visconti era are made entirely in brick. The main entrance is on the eastern side, from the city. A drawbridge over the moat was replaced in 1803 by a bridge in masonry, but its traces are still visible. A secondary entrance, towards the countryside, was inserted in the south-eastern tower. At the beginning of the 20th century, the building served as the district court and prison. In 1969, the Municipality of Romano began its restoration.

Today

Today, the Rocca is the seat of the municipal library and the Parco del Serio. The ''Sala Grande'' hosts exhibitions and events.

References

Sources

External links

''Visit Bergamo, Bergamo official tourism website – Romano Castle''

Beni Culturali – Castello Visconteo – complesso – Romano di Lombardia (BG)''
{{Visconti of Milan Castles in Lombardy