Description of the attraction
Fort Fuentes is a military fortress built on the hill of Montegiolo in the vicinity of Colico, on the shores of Lake Como. It was erected by order of the Spanish governor of Milan, Don Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, to control the plain below Pian di Spagna and the strategically important road between Valtellina, Valchiavenna and Alto Lario. In addition, this fortress was entrusted with the duty of protecting the northern borders of the Spanish possessions.
The construction of the fort began in 1603 or 1609 under the direction of the military architect Gabrio Brusca and was fully completed three years later. The fort had a rectangular shape, and the irregularly shaped walls, which protruded as wedges, made it possible to better protect the bastion. The whole structure consisted of several levels: on the upper, still visible, there was the commander's headquarters, and on the lower there were rooms for soldiers. In total, the fortress could accommodate about 300 people. Supporting fortifications were Sorico Tower, Torretta del Passo, Fortino d'Adda, Torrino di Borgofrancone, Torretta di Curcio and Fontanedo Tower.
Like Milan, Fort Fuentes was taken by Eugene of Savoy in 1706, ending Spanish rule in northern Italy. In 1769, the fort was visited by the Austrian emperor Joseph II, who declared it useless for military purposes. Thirteen years later, the fortress was removed from service, and the land was sold to private hands. At the end of the 18th century, by order of Napoleon, the fort was almost completely destroyed. Then, in the 19th century, bandits and partisans hid in its ruins, and during the First World War, eight firing positions were equipped here. In 1987, the entire Montegiolo hill with the ruins of the fort was bought by the administration of the province of Como, and later it became the property of the province of Lecco. In 1998, a special Fort Fuentes Association was created to preserve the historical heritage of this place.
It is also worth mentioning the fresco that was once located in the fort's chapel - it depicts Saint Barbara, the patroness of warriors. The fresco itself has not so much artistic as historical significance - today it is kept in the parish church of Colico San Giorgio.
