Breno Castle (Italy)

Breno castle stands on a hill overlooking the town: the building was erected at the time of Federico I "Barbarossa" (1100 - 1200), then transformed into a military stronghold at the time of the Serenissima (1400-1500) and finally, after having been abandoned in 1598, it was reused as a stone quarry. However, the castle stands on a much older site: probably the place where in the X-IX century BC. a prehistoric community was established.
The castle can be reached with a short walk (about 15 minutes) from the center of Breno: the perimeter is enclosed by a crenellated wall and two towers. Inside you can admire the remains of the church of San Michele, of Lombard origin, then enlarged in the Romanesque period. The other buildings, of which mostly the perimeter walls and cellars with barrel vaults remain, were added during the Venetian rule.