The Pandino Castle was built by the will of the lord of Milan, Bernabò Visconti. The construction started from about 1355 and it was a country residence for hunting. At the time, in fact, the area around the town of Pandino was sparsely populated but rich in woods with abundant game.

Bernabò Visconti was the Lord of the territories from Milan to Lake Garda, in this area he owned about 20 castles, 5 of which were built for hunting, his great passion.

The building diagram of the Pandino castle is regular square, once equipped with 4 square-based towers one in each corner of the castle (nowadays it’s possible to admire the two towers at the east side of the Castle because the tower at the west side were demolished in the 19th century, since they were unsafe, as well as the part of the western side between them)

The central courtyard is surrounded on the lower floor by a portico with pointed arches. On the upper floor by a loggia with square pillars.

During the 15th century the Castle goes through some improvements: water is added in the moat, and two low towers are placed in front of the entrances of the Castle.  These improvements were for defence from the enemies,  in fact, at the time, the Venetians had approached Pandino, the Castle needed to be  strengthened with drawbridges, loopholes for throwing arrows and machicolations to throw stones on the enemies.

As soon as construction is completed, the castle was decorated in all its parts: rooms, arcades, courtyard and external facades. Many of these paintings are still visible and in a good state of conservation: The Castle of Pandino is the Visconti manor with the greatest amount of original fourteenth-century decorations preserved to this day in Europe. 

What we can admire is very similar to what Bernabò himself admired when he passed his time  in Pandino.

The Visconteo di Pandino Castle is open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, on weekdays it is possible to book for groups (prices on request)

TO BE SEEN

The internal courtyard and the upper loggia and the numerous rooms frescoed with original 14th century paintings.

The exhibition dedicated to Marius Stroppa "Marius Genio e Macchina": a permanent exhibition of the works of a great artist from Pandino, he was a graphic designer, illustrator, urban planner, inventor…

For information and reservations:

Tourist Office

+390373 973350 - +39338 7291650

turismo@comune.pandino.cr.it