Castelletto di Branduzzo
Welcome to Castelletto di Branduzzo!
Hello everyone! Today I'm taking you to discover Castelletto di Branduzzo, an Italian municipality in the province of Pavia, in the Lombardy region. With its 976 inhabitants, it's a tranquil place immersed in the plain of Oltrepò Pavese, between the Luria and Coppa streams. The municipality is formed by the capital Castelletto Po, Branduzzo (although currently uninhabited), and three main hamlets: Valle Botta, Bassino, and Case Nuove. Ready to find out more?
History
Castelletto di Branduzzo was born from the merger of the municipalities of Castelletto Po and Branduzzo, which took place in 1928. Castelletto Po, known since the 12th century, shared its history with the nearby Pancarana and Bastida Pancarana, belonging to the episcopal property of Pavia. Later, it was part of the fiefdom of Montebello della Battaglia, the Orozco de Rivera, and the Machado da Silva, until finally belonging to the Spinola.
Branduzzo, on the other hand, is a small municipality on whose lands stands the castle of the Adorno family. They were of Lombard origin and settled between Milan and Pavia. In the 15th century, their social and economic ascent was carried forward by Giovanni, who for twenty years served Filippo Maria Visconti. He later became master of the entries during the duchy of the Sforza and brought the Adorno family to the highest levels of power. In 1634, the Botta family joined the Adorno through the marriage of a Botta with the last heiress of the Adorno dukes, giving rise to the Botta Adorno.
The Castle of Branduzzo
One of the main attractions of Castelletto di Branduzzo is undoubtedly the castle of Branduzzo. Built by the Adorno family between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, the castle remained in their possession for a long time, and its power and greatness were well-known throughout the region. However, the decline of the castle began in the 1980s when funds for proper maintenance ran out. The castle is therefore in a state of neglect, and time and acts of vandalism have damaged it considerably. Despite this, the castle still represents a powerful testament to the past of the Adorno family and the municipality of Branduzzo.
Symbols of the Municipality
Castelletto di Branduzzo has its own coat of arms and banner, approved by the municipal council on 30 March 2001, and granted by decree of the President of the Republic on 5 June of the same year. The coat of arms depicts the emblems of the two merged municipalities of Branduzzo and Castelletto Po, while the banner is a white cloth bordered in red.
Monuments and Places of Interest
In addition to the castle of Branduzzo, the municipality also offers other interesting places to visit. Among these, the church of Saints Alberto and Siro, built in the 17th century and then rebuilt in 1859, and the monument dedicated to Giovanni Ballestra, captain of the Italian Air Force, who died on 18 January 1979 when he crashed his F-104 Starfighter to prevent it from falling on the inhabited area of Branduzzo. Finally, we cannot forget the Sette Laghi lake, used for various fishing techniques, which extends over an area of about 10 hectares and started its existence in the 1980s following the processing and extraction of gravel.
Conclusion
So here's my presentation of Castelletto di Branduzzo! I hope to have given you an idea of this tranquil and picturesque place in Lombardy. The castle of Branduzzo is definitely worth a visit, but so are the church of Saints Alberto and Siro, the monument to Giovanni Ballestra, and the Sette Laghi lake. In short, if you're looking for some peace and nature, Castelletto di Branduzzo may be the right place for you.
