Cazzago San Martino, Castle of Bornato in Franciacorta

The Castle of Bornato is a very rare example of a Renaissance villa (16th C) built inside a medieval castle (13th C). This gives elegance to the stronghold, which tranfers to the villa its predominating position. The history of this place goes back centuries: it used to be a Roman fortress on the consular road to Bergamo. About 1270 Inverardo da Bornato strengthened the castle with a circle of 300 metres of battlmented walls, towers, a moat and a draw bridge. From here, in 1436, Antonio Martinengo, leader from Brescia at the service of Venice, directed attacks that brought victory over the Milanese militia. In 1562 the castle was ceded to the Gandini family, whose coat of arms is at the entrance.
They built the villa, where you can admire frescoes from the 17th and 19th centuries.
The castle is opened to the public and can be visited from Easter to November on Sundays and the other holidays, 10am-12am and 14.30pm-18pm.