Barco
Barco: a hidden gem in the province of Brescia
If you're looking for a peaceful and historically rich place to spend a pleasant day out, we recommend visiting Barco, a small town in the municipality of Orzinuovi, in the province of Brescia. In this article, we'll talk about its physical geography, its history, its monuments, and its places of interest.
Physical geography
Barco is located at an altitude of 71 meters above sea level and is situated near the Oglio River. This makes it an ideal place to take a pleasant walk and enjoy the surrounding landscape.
History
Barco was once known as Castelbarco, as can be seen from the name of the road that leads from Orzinuovi to the town. One of the most important traditions of Barco is the procession of Good Friday, which is one of the most important in Italy, as it represents the Passion of Jesus.
The Parish of Barco, like the castle, is of feudal origin and owes its origins to the Martinengo family. The church is dedicated to Pope Gregory the Great and has valuable statues of the twelve apostles. In 1610, Giovanni da Lezze described the territory of Barco in a work that has allowed us to better understand the life of the town in those times.
Monuments and places of interest
Martinengo Castle (Barco)
Martinengo Castle is one of the most important monuments in Barco and was built in 1463 by Gianfrancesco Martinengo on the ruins of a previous castle. Inside, there are some frescoes by the painter Sebastiano Aragonese. In 1487, the Republic of Venice granted the noble Gianfrancesco Martinengo and his successors the title of Count of Barco. Count Gian Francesco was a respected military leader of the Republic of Venice, an expert in military knowledge, and a talented architect who was responsible for the construction of Rocca d'Anfo in 1450.
The Martinengo family from Barco
The town of Barco gives its name to a branch of one of the most important noble families in Brescia: the Martinengo counts of Barco. With the death of Count Leopardo Martinengo in 1884, the Martinengo family line from Barco became extinct and the castle was sold: the northern part to the wealthy Bergamo family of Donadoni and later purchased by the Graifemberg brothers (who are still the owners), and the southern part to Corvini Gio Batta from Soncino.
Society
Barco is a small town with around 1,200 inhabitants. However, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and participate in the town's activities.
Notes
If you decide to visit Barco, it's important to know that the town was an autonomous municipality until 1927, when it was annexed to the municipality of Orzinuovi.
External links
If you want to learn more about Barco and its monuments, we recommend visiting the websites of Orzinuovi and the province of Brescia for more information.
