Palazzo Visconti, Mannerist town hall in Brignano Gera d'Adda, Italy
Palazzo Visconti stands southwest of Brignano Gera d'Adda and joins three connected parts: the 13th–14th-century defensive core, the 16th-century Palazzo Vecchio and the 18th-century Palazzo Nuovo. The old nucleus survives as the linking element between the two palaces, with traces of a drawbridge and walkway uncovered in recent restorations.
In 1186, Emperor Frederick I of Swabia granted the fiefdom of Brignano and this palace to the Milanese Visconti family. This transfer established the family's long connection to the building and the region.
The building's name is often given wrongly as Castello di Brignano, though it has been a palazzo since the 18th century. Since 2003 the municipal offices have occupied Palazzo Vecchio, the 16th-century wing, so the town hall itself is part of the former castle complex.
The building houses municipal offices open during regular business hours for administrative services. Guided visits can be arranged through the local Pro Loco organization to learn more about the palace and its decorations.
The building is often wrongly called Castello di Brignano, though its defensive core dates to the 13th-14th century. Look for traces of the drawbridge and walkway that re-emerged during recent restorations, in the connecting element between the two main palaces.
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