Visconti Rocca, Medieval fortress in Romano di Lombardia, Italy.
Visconti Rocca is a castle with a quadrangular plan enclosing two courtyards, the Corte Grande and the Corte Veneta, with four towers at the corners. The south-eastern tower is the oldest, and the south-western tower has machicolations and a latrine cubicle. The walls mix river pebbles in herringbone patterns with brick courses, and the battlements are Ghibelline swallowtail.
The fortress was built in the 13th century and received significant expansions during the 14th century under Azzone Visconti. After 1448, Bartolomeo Colleoni made further modifications that shaped the structure's appearance.
The great hall on the western side shows how the fortress transformed from a military stronghold into a space for gatherings and celebrations. Visitors can see today how this room hosts local exhibitions and cultural events.
The main entrance faces the town on the eastern side, where a masonry bridge replaced the drawbridge in 1803; a secondary entrance opens toward the countryside through the south-eastern tower. The two original moats, once separated by an earthwork, have dried out and now form a lawn open to residents. The Rocca houses the municipal library and the Parco del Serio offices, and the Sala Grande is used for exhibitions and events, so some rooms may be closed during activities.
The south-eastern tower, the oldest in the rocca, held the temporary prisons on its lower floor, probably for minor offences. Above them is the "Chiesiola della rocca", a chapel with traces of frescoes and a bell gable that once called the community to services and also served as an alarm.
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