Visconti Castle, Renaissance castle in Cusago, Italy
Visconti Castle is a Renaissance fortification in Cusago with a rectangular ground plan and defensive design. The structure includes a central courtyard with a distinctive eight-column portico and a single entrance tower overlooking the main square.
The castle was built in 1360 by Bernabò Visconti as a hunting lodge for Milan's rulers. In the early 15th century, Duke Filippo Maria Visconti commissioned a canal to link the property directly to the main water transport network.
The structure reveals how medieval fortress design transformed into comfortable residential architecture during the Renaissance. The rooms and ornamental details reflect the shift from purely defensive buildings to refined homes for Milan's ruling family.
The castle is currently undergoing major restoration work and is not open to visitors. The ongoing rehabilitation project involves comprehensive structural and decorative improvements overseen by its private owner.
The canal linking the property to the Naviglio Grande waterway, completed in 1438, represented an engineering feat that few noble residences possessed. This water connection allowed direct transport of supplies and game between the estate and Milan during the Renaissance.
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