Cassolnovo
The Villanova Castle
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about the Villanova Castle, a historic fortress located in the hamlet of Cassolnovo, in the province of Pavia.
History and Description
The castle dates back to the Visconti-Sforza period and is characterized by a square-shaped structure with a central courtyard, four corner towers, and an entrance tower with a drawbridge. It was restored in 1455 by Roberto Sanseverino and completed by the Gonzaga family of Mantua in the sixteenth century.
In front of the castle entrance, there are two marble busts dating back to the late Roman period, locally known as "DuCamoru". The complex is set on a square-shaped plan, with an entrance tower and four corner towers. The outer walls of the castle feature decorations with white and red diamonds, still visible but a bit worn out by time.
Inside the castle, the central courtyard is equipped with wooden balconies, and in the middle of the courtyard, there is a water pump for the residents. San Luigi Gonzaga stayed in one of the rooms several times.
Notes
The Villanova Castle is an important example of military architecture from the Visconti-Sforza period and represents one of the treasures of the province of Pavia.
Bibliography
For more information about the Villanova Castle, I recommend checking out the book edited by Federico Del Tredici and Edoardo Rossetti titled "Castle routes from Milan to Bellinzona". You will find interesting insights into the history and architecture of the castle.
External Links
You can visit the Lombardy Cultural Heritage website to learn all the details about the structure of the castle and visiting methods. Don't miss the opportunity to admire this gem of Italian architecture!
