Visconti Castle (Castelletto sopra Ticino)

At short distance from the town of Castelletto, the castle lies in an overlooking position near the Ticino, few hundreds meter from the point where the Lake Maggiore ceases and the southern portion of the river begins its course[1]

The first mention of the castle is in the 12th century, when it was a property of the Da Castello, a family from Novara. In the 13th century it is known in the possession of members of the Visconti house: in 1236 Ottone and later Uberto Visconti di Massino, who is considered the progenitor of the Visconti di Castelletto cadet branch. In 1329, the lordship of the Visconti di Castelletto in their town was confirmed in a royal diploma. In the 15th century the dominions of the Visconti di Castelletto extended to the area surrounding the southern Lake Maggiore. The castle was remodelled over the following centuries, mainly on the western side, and transformed into an aristocratic residence. It had been a property of the Visconti di Castelletto until the beginning of the 20th century.[2]

The castle today is a private real estate. In good conditions, it still retains its original quadrilateral shape with a tower on each corner.[3]

• Del Tredici, Federico; Rossetti, Edoardo (2012). Percorsi castellani: da Milano a Bellinzona: guida ai castelli del ducato (in Italian). Castelli del ducato. ISBN 9788896451021.

• Castelletto Sopra Ticino Portale Turismo - Castelli, palazzi, ville, badie e giardini