“Was this a castle or a farmhouse?” That is the question many ask when first seeing Castello di Longhignana. Today we are standing before this medieval building. It is located in Longhignana. This is part of Peschiera Borromeo in Lombardy.
Castello di Longhignana’s story began in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Duchy of Milan built it. It was part of the defense system for Peschiera. The Longhignani family were put in charge. That is how the village got its name.
Bernabò Visconti used it as a hunting lodge. Later, the Umiliati monks turned it into a convent. But in 1456, the Umiliati sold Castello di Longhignana to Vitaliano Borromeo. He returned it to being a hunting lodge. The Borromeo family also controlled the nearby town and castle of Peschiera.
Imagine travelers on the main road. Castello di Longhignana became a rest stop. It had a tavern and stables for changing horses. This made it more of a rural building.
Local writer Sergio Leondi tells us more. San Carlo Borromeo often visited his family here. In 1499, King Louis XII of France visited Lodovico Borromeo and his wife Bona. He agreed to be the godfather of their first son.
Later, Louis visited Bona at Castello di Longhignana. He gave her a gold and gem necklace worth 500 ducats. They had breakfast together.
Much of the original Castello di Longhignana is gone. Since the 16th century, it has been changed into a farm residence. The nearby Peschiera Borromeo castle became more important as a residence.
But the old tavern area still exists. Today, it is a restaurant.
Castello di Longhignana has seen many changes. From a defensive structure to a hunting lodge. From a convent to a rural rest stop. It even hosted kings and saints. Today, Castello di Longhignana stands as a reminder of its rich past. It links the powerful Visconti and Borromeo families to the common traveler. It is a unique blend of castle and farmhouse. A testament to the changing times.