Overview
When exploring the province of Bergamo, we recommend visiting the Castle of Brignano, among the most beautiful palaces in Lombardy.
It dates to the 10th century, when the comune of Brignano Gera d’Adda came under the rule of the noble Visconti family of Milan, who built the structure there – hence the name Palazzo Visconti – for defensive purposes. This original core, extended in the 16th century, is known today as the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace). The Palazzo Nuovo (New Palace) refers to the 18th-century extension that transformed the castle into a true noble residence. Today, the Palazzo Nuovo is privately owned and not open to the public.
However, the Palazzo Vecchio, owned by the municipality, welcomes visitors with its large portico with frescoed vaults. You can gaze up at and photograph these masterpieces, before climbing the frescoed staircase to the main floor. The rooms, starting with the throne room, are among the best examples of Lombard Baroque architecture. You can also visit the room that housed the Visconti picture gallery, the Sala dell’Innominato (Room of the Unnamed). It is said that the Palazzo Vecchio is the very Castle of the Unnamed described by Italian author Manzoni in The Betrothed.
Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 24053 Brignano Gera d'Adda BG, Italia
