“Hunting lodge fit for a Lord”. That´s what they called Pandino Castle back in the 14th century. Pandino Castle stands proudly in the town of Pandino. It sits in the Cremona province of Lombardy. Locally it is known as Castello Visconteo di Pandino.
Built between 1355 and 1370, Pandino Castle was commissioned by Bernabò Visconti. He was the Lord of Milan. He wanted it as a hunting lodge. Hunting was Bernabò’s favorite pastime. The lands around Pandino were heavily wooded back then.
Pandino Castle has the typical design of Visconti lowland castles. It features a square plan with four square corner towers. An inner courtyard has pointed arched porticos on the ground floor. An upper loggia shows square pillars. Most walls were frescoed after construction. Geometric designs and the coat of arms of Bernabò Visconti were painted. The snake, and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala represented by the ladder. Originally, a moat encircled Pandino Castle.
In the 15th century, the Sforza family gained control of Pandino Castle. They reinforced it with two gate towers. The southeast corner tower was raised. These changes aimed to protect the castle from approaching Venetian forces. However, these measures failed. The Venetians captured Pandino Castle twice without much resistance. They occupied it for a few years.
Later, Pandino Castle changed hands among several noble families. In 1552, the Marquis of Adda acquired it. The D’Addas owned the castle until 1947. Then, they sold it to the local council. By this time, the castle was dilapidated. It was used for agricultural purposes. A subsequent restoration project revived it.
Today, Pandino Castle houses municipal offices. It also contains a library and a police post. It serves cultural purposes. The courtyard is open to the public during the day. Pandino Castle is a testament to medieval power and noble leisure. Its walls whisper tales of hunts, battles, and changing fortunes. A really nice castle to visit.