Set amidst the pleasant landscape of vineyards and rolling hills, in a particularly picturesque spot along the road leading to Bornato, Passirano Castle is one of the most fascinating and best-preserved fortified structures in Franciacorta. The complex still clearly retains its quadrangular layout, surrounded by crenellated walls and reinforced at the corners by corner towers and the keep.<\/p>\n
Founded towards the end of the Early Middle Ages, perhaps in the 10th century in response to the fearsome Hungarian invasion, the castle was completely rebuilt between the 13th and 15th centuries, a period during which its history became intertwined with the political dynamics of the time. In 1438, it was captured by the condottiere Erasmo da Narni, better known as Gattamelata, who fought for the Republic of Venice; but the most significant consequences were likely to have stemmed from the events surrounding the terrible Sack of Brescia, which took place on 19 February 1512, followed by destruction and looting across much of the Franciacorta region.<\/p>\n
Despite these events, the castle remains clearly recognisable and still retains its intact perimeter walls and deep moat, which today runs along only two sides but must once have encircled the entire complex.<\/p>\n
On the eastern side, which is higher than the others, stands the keep, which differs from the corner towers in that it has a square plan and a central position, projecting significantly beyond the line of the walls.<\/p>\n
The masonry owes its grey hues to the use of Sarnico stone, a typical local material, whilst the dovetail-shaped battlements, traditionally associated with the rivalry between factions in medieval Italy and lending the castle a medieval appearance, are in fact the result of 18th-century alterations, as is the entrance portal on the northern side, which was completely restored in modern times.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":379,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","categorie_arte":[431],"comuni":[382],"class_list":["post-3514","arte_e_cultura","type-arte_e_cultura","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categorie_arte-castelli","comuni-passirano"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n