Lantieri Castle

The castle of Paratico: a romantic ruin in a strategic position on Lake Iseo

Perched atop the hill to the south of the village, Paratico Castle now stands as a romantic ruin surrounded by greenery; however, a single glance is enough to realise that what now appears as a ruin was originally a castle of some importance, built on a strategic site overlooking the entire southern part of Lake Iseo, at the point where the Brescia and Bergamo shores meet.

Early medieval settlement and communal refuge

The first castle was built towards the end of the Early Middle Ages, at a time of political uncertainty caused by the collapse of the Carolingian Empire and the threat posed by the fearsome Hungarian invasions. Traditionally considered the property of the Lantieri family, it is, however, always referred to in documents as castrum Paratici, the castle of Paratico: its construction is therefore attributable not to a single lord, but to the initiative of several lords, as a fortified refuge to be used in times of need, following a model widely prevalent in Northern and Central Italy.

City walls, keep and extensions from the early 14th century

All that remains of the ancient castle is the curtain wall, five or six metres high, featuring a large square tower measuring ten metres on each side and built of local stone, which undoubtedly served as a keep. Adjacent to the tower stands a more recent, lower building, extending horizontally and comprising two storeys: the portals, framed in Sarnico stone, reflect a style common during the Scaliger period, allowing the main structure to be broadly dated to the early decades of the 14th century.
Access to the refuge was provided by a door with a pointed arch, situated on the south-east side.

The Dante tradition and a possible visit in 1311

An interesting anecdote, which has become part of local lore despite lacking any solid historical basis, links the history of the castle with the life of Dante Alighieri: reported by Odorici in his “Storie Bresciane”, the account is based on an earlier note by the archpriest of Calvisano, Baldassare Zamboni (1723–1797), according to whom the great poet, exiled from Florence, whilst making his way across the peninsula, is said to have stayed at Paratico Castle as a guest of the Lantieri family. If Dante did have the opportunity to visit the Sebino area, this would likely have been in 1311, when Emperor Henry VII laid siege to Brescia, aided by the Scaligeri, with whom Dante was staying.