Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
It was built with a quadrangular but irregular plan in the 13th century by the Ghibellines expelled from Cremona near the right bank of the Adda. Together with Basiasco, Corno Giovine, Cornovecchio, Pizzighettone and Maleo, Maccastorna constituted the territory on which the Vincemala (Vismara) family exercised the Mero and Misto Impero from 1272 to 1381. In 1371 it was acquired by the noble Vismara family from Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lord of Milan, who in 1385 gave it, together with the fief, to Guglielmo Bevilacqua in recognition of his help in getting rid of Bernabò Visconti. In the 15th century the structure, together with the fief of Maccastorna, passed into the hands of Cabrino Fondulo, a leader in the service of the Cremonese Cavalcabò, lords of Cremona. He settled in the manor and made important changes: he built the surrounding walls, the moat with its drawbridge and the prisons. On 24 July 1406 he gave hospitality in the castle to Carlo Cavalcabò, cousin of Ugolino Cavalcabò and lord of Cremona, and his entourage returning from Milan after a visit to the Viscontis. Cabrino Fondulo, aided by his henchmen, slaughtered the guests after dinner and threw their bodies into the bounty well. Since then it is said that the cries of the dead still echo in the halls of the castle. Shortly after he proclaimed himself lord of Cremona. The castle remained, until 1901, the property of the Veronese Bevilacqua family. A portion of the surrounding walls of the original structure survives.
It was built with a quadrangular but irregular plan in the 13th century by the Ghibellines expelled from Cremona near the right bank of the Adda. Together with Basiasco, Corno Giovine, Cornovecchio, Pizzighettone and Maleo, Maccastorna constituted the territory on which the Vincemala (Vismara) family exercised the Mero and Misto Impero from 1272 to 1381. In 1371 it was acquired by the noble Vismara family from Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lord of Milan, who in 1385 gave it, together with the fief, to Guglielmo Bevilacqua in recognition of his help in getting rid of Bernabò Visconti. In the 15th century the structure, together with the fief of Maccastorna, passed into the hands of Cabrino Fondulo, a leader in the service of the Cremonese Cavalcabò, lords of Cremona. He settled in the manor and made important changes: he built the surrounding walls, the moat with its drawbridge and the prisons. On 24 July 1406 he gave hospitality in the castle to Carlo Cavalcabò, cousin of Ugolino Cavalcabò and lord of Cremona, and his entourage returning from Milan after a visit to the Viscontis. Cabrino Fondulo, aided by his henchmen, slaughtered the guests after dinner and threw their bodies into the bounty well. Since then it is said that the cries of the dead still echo in the halls of the castle. Shortly after he proclaimed himself lord of Cremona. The castle remained, until 1901, the property of the Veronese Bevilacqua family. A portion of the surrounding walls of the original structure survives.
