Belgioioso Castle

Belgioioso, Italy

Belgioioso is noted for its medieval castle, the seat of the Belgiojoso family.  It is believed to have been the initiative of Galeazzo II, who had it built on the extensive landholdings of the Visconti family in the second half of the 14th century. Francis I of France was held there after the Battle of Pavia.

This historic monument now offers a stunning setting for public and private events, including weddings and company parties.

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Address

Via Dante Alighieri 2, Belgioioso, Italy
See all sites in Belgioioso

Details

Founded: 14th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

More Information

www.belgioioso.it
whc.unesco.org

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Milan Cathedral (35,1 km)
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (35,3 km)
Royal Palace of Milan (35 km)
Sforza Castle (36 km)
Gallerie di Piazza Scala (35,4 km)
La Scala (35,5 km)
San Babila Church (35,3 km)
San Carlo al Corso (35,2 km)
Pinacoteca di Brera (36 km)

User Reviews

Roberto Buzzi (2 years ago)
Love it. Beautiful views of the Ticino river and the city. A romantic spot too.....
richard beazley (2 years ago)
The best wedding ever, with the most amazing people, thank you Benni and Susana I love you xxx
Sandy Stellato (2 years ago)
All vintage... interesting some things over priced.
Riccardo Bottani (3 years ago)
Amazing place to visit! Spring and Autumn are the best times to enjoy a day at the castle as they host great fairs. The park is beautiful too and there is a food trucks area in the inner garden
Negin Mansouri (3 years ago)
Amazing day spent at Castello di Belgioioso. The castle is one of the most breathtaking historic landmarks near milan and the garden adds to its beauty. We visited there for the “Next Vintage” fair which was a unique shopping experience as well as being very well-organized. I would definitely like to go back there for other events as well. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon.
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Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Historic Site of the week

Palazzo Colonna

The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

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