Description of the attraction
Castle Castello di Soncino, located in the town of Soncino in Lombardy, was built in the 10th century and played a decisive role in the defense of the territory of the modern province of Cremona in the 16th century. Today it is a typical example of a Lombard castle.
The history of Castello di Soncino dates back to the 10th century, when the first wall was built around a primitive defensive structure. In the 13th century, the castle was besieged several times by the Milanese and Brescians, and in 1283 it was reconstructed. In 1312, Castello was occupied by the Cremonians, and at the end of the same century, the Milanese used it in their war against the Venetians, which led to the fact that in 1426 the castle wall was seriously fortified. In the middle of the 15th century, Soncino and the castle became the property of the Duchy of Milan. By order of Francesco Sforza, the building was fortified, then, in 1471 and 1473, military engineers worked on it again. In 1536, the town of Soncino received the status of a marquisate and passed into the possession of the Stampa family of Milan, on whose initiative the castle was rebuilt and turned into an aristocratic residence. Stampa was also invited to decorate the castle by such outstanding painters as Bernardino Gatti and Vincenzo Campi. In 1876, the last member of the Stampa family transferred Castello di Soncino into the ownership of the commune.
Once upon a time it was possible to get to the castle only by walking over a wooden drawbridge, but in the 19th century it was replaced by a ravelin. Behind the main portal there is a courtyard where in the past troops were maneuvering, and in another courtyard, in the very center, there was a well that supplied the castle with water. Of the four towers of Castello di Soncino, Torre del Castellano deserves special attention, so named because it used to be the residence of the official ruler of the castle. It was directly connected to the underground passages that led to the defensive moat - this allowed the castle keeper to escape unnoticed in the event of an attack. Another tower, South-East, is notable for the chapel, built by order of the Marquis of Stump. Fragments of frescoes can still be seen in it, the oldest of which date back to the 15th century. Finally, the Round Tower is the only one in the castle that has such a shape. On its ground floor, there is a round hall with a round vault, in the center of which you can see a column in the shape of a cylinder leading to the roof. This tower was used as an observation tower. Inside it also preserved ancient frescoes, family coats of arms and a crucifix, which is now in a depressing state. It is possible that the tower also once housed a chapel.
