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Wonder
Wonder  }  Fortresses and castles

Cavernago Castle

Imposing palace on the plains of Bergamo, a short distance from that of Malpaga

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Where is

Lombardia

Via Roma, 24050 Cavernago BG, Italia (0m s.l.m.)

Directions
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In Cavernago, on the hunt for castles

Those who love to travel in search of ancient castles should definitely visit Cavernago, in the province of Bergamo, which has two castles. Malpaga Castle is the best known, but the second one, Cavernago Castle is also really beautiful.

Why it is special: a Lombard castle with Venetian inspirations

On the outside it looks very classical, so as not to disappoint lovers of the genre: four corner towers (the northwest one dates back to the oldest structure of the castle), a moat and a drawbridge. Inside, however, things change: a very elegant inner courtyard is framed by a double loggia decorated with frescoes, along the lines of the style used by Sansovino in Venice.

Not to be missed

The castle is full of other interesting details besides the scenic courtyard. Just to name a few, the monumental spiral staircase built by Filippo Juvarra in the 1700s, or the large stone eagle on the entrance gate. Around its neck is the collar of the SS. Annunziata, an honor that Martinengo was awarded by Duke Emanuele Filiberto.

A bit of history

The present building is the result of the rebuilding between 1597 and 1610 by Count Francesco Martinengo Colleoni of an earlier small castle belonging to Bartolomeo Colleoni. Having admired Sansovino's architecture in Venice, the count had the style imitated. All that remains of the large tournament garden that surrounded it is the wide open space in front of the facade. Today a driveway connects the castle to the small church of San Marco, also erected by the Martinengo-Colleoni family in the early 17th century. Surrounding the castle is a large tree-lined green open space where the moat once stood.

Fun fact: a connection between the castles of Malpaga and Cavernago.

Cavernago's other castle, that of Malpaga, belonged to Bartolomeo Colleoni. It is said that the two castles were connected by an underground tunnel and that the Germans, who had occupied Malpaga during World War II, found it, although obstructed and not passable. Who knows if this is true?

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Recommended by
Patrizia Iome

Elegant castle, in the green countryside; fascinating setting, to the right a long rural building adorned with flowers, to the left a beautiful portal to the countryside, in front the garden.

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