{{Short description|Medieval castle in Veneto, Italy}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox military installation |name =CastelBrando<!--Please note, the correct spelling is CastelBrando (in camelcase) without space--> |partof = |location =Cison di Valmarino Italy |image =280px |caption =CastelBrando |map_type =Italy |coordinates = {{coord|45.78|12.17|type:landmark_region:IT|display=inline}} |map_size =280 |map_caption=Location of CastelBrando in Northern Italy |type =Castle |built =1st century |builder = |materials=Dolomite Limestone |height = |used = |demolished= |condition=Restored |ownership = |controlledby= |garrison = |commanders= |occupants = |battles = |events = }} [[File:Cison di Valmarino.jpg|thumb|Cison di Valmarino with CastelBrando in background]]
'''CastelBrando''', former '''Castrum Costae''', is a medieval castle situated on a dolomite limestone rock at an elevation of {{convert|370|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, overlooking the villages of Cison di Valmarino and Valmareno, Northern Italy. The name ''CastelBrando'' stems from ''Brando I'' of the name ''Brandolini'', an ancient family from Forlì, who were the Lords of the castle.
==History==
CastelBrando was originally built in the Roman age as a defensive fortress<ref name="Pieve">{{cite web|url=http://www.qdp.it/pieve/cennistorici.asp|title=Pieve di Soligo: History|publisher=© 2009 Quartier del Piave|access-date=2009-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722050515/http://www.qdp.it/pieve/cennistorici.asp|archive-date=2011-07-22|url-status=dead}}</ref> in order to protect the important lines of communication which connected Northern Italy to the countries on the other side of the Alps.<ref name="Pieve"/><ref name="CastelBrando">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotelcastelbrando.com/hotel-treviso-storia-en.htm |title=CastelBrando Official Site – ''History'' |publisher=© 2009 Hotel CastelBrando |access-date=2009-09-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825021728/http://www.hotelcastelbrando.com/hotel-treviso-storia-en.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2009 }}</ref> Originally there was a garrison here protecting the territory between the Piave and the Livenza rivers in order to facilitate the safe construction of the pre-alpine part of the Via Claudia Augusta,<ref name="Venicecountry">{{cite web|url=http://www.venicecountry.it/page.php?sid=010b276a2fe7646177257ce6adca398d&pageid=PAGE100V|title=Historical evolution of CastelBrando|publisher=© 2009 Venicecountry.it|access-date=2009-09-23|archive-date=2011-07-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722065114/http://www.venicecountry.it/page.php?sid=010b276a2fe7646177257ce6adca398d&pageid=PAGE100V|url-status=dead}}</ref> an important Roman road,<ref name="Pieve"/><ref name="Lim">{{cite web|url=http://thetravellinggourmet.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!3EE15501CCE77911!284.entry|title=Captivating CastelBrando|last=Lim|first=Dr. Michael|publisher=© 2009 Microsoft Live|access-date=2009-09-25}}</ref> which linked the valley of the Po River with Rhaetia (modern Austria).<ref name="Colomban69">Laura Colomban: 2009</ref> The original castrum, dating from 46 AD is still visible today.<ref name="Colomban69"/> A recent archaeological excavation has uncovered a {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} diameter bread-oven within the castrum, dating from the same period.<ref name="Colomban69"/> The original Roman baths have also been excavated, as have the original pipes of the aqueduct which supplied water from three nearby natural springs. These springs still provide water for the castle today.<ref name="Colomban69"/> During the European Migration Period the fortress became an important defensive position against barbarian invasions. Over the centuries the castle has been subject to numerous enlargements and renovations. During the 13th century the castle was substantially enlarged while under the ownership of the Da Camino family,<ref name="Pieve"/><ref name="Comune">{{cite web |url=http://www.comune.cisondivalmarino.tv.it/Storia.htm |title=City of Cison of Valmarino |publisher=www.comune.cisondivalmarino.tv.it |access-date=2010-03-25|language=Italian}}</ref> who lived there from 1233 to 1335.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bedandbreakfastcastrum.it/itineraries-tour-treviso.php |title=Castrum di Serravalle – Itineraries |publisher=www.bedandbreakfastcastrum.it |access-date=2009-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113035403/http://www.bedandbreakfastcastrum.it/itineraries-tour-treviso.php |archive-date=2009-11-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their architectural additions included surrounding the castle with imposing Guelph-Ghibelline style battlements and building a central tower.<ref name="CastelBrando"/><ref name="Da Camino">{{cite book|first=Enrica|last=Angella|author2=Pietro Bongi|title=Sulle terre dei da Camino|publisher=Bubola & Naibo|location=Pieve di Soligo|year=1993}}</ref> Gherardo III da Camino, the great Italian feudal lord and military leader was born in the castle in 1240.<ref name="Da Camino"/>
The Castle's ownership then passed over to the Republic of Venice, which awarded the Castle's fiefdom first to Marin Faliero and then to the condottieri Giovanni Brandolino and Erasmo da Narni, better known as "Gattamelata".<ref name="Pieve"/><ref name="CastelBrando"/><ref name="Comune"/><ref>From the [https://web.archive.org/web/20061206124420/http://comune.narni.tr.it/GUIDA%20NARNI%20INGLESE.pdf guide of the Comune di Narni.]</ref> After the fall of Venetian Republic in 1797, it was passed down through the family of Giovanni Brandolino and became the property of the Brandolini Counts, an ancient family from Forlì.<ref name="CastelBrando"/><ref name="Lim"/> In the first half of the 16th century Antonio Maria Brandolini (1476–1522), commissioned skilled engineers to enlarge the central part of the castle in Sansovino style,<ref name="CastelBrando"/> adding Venetian Gothic double and triple mullioned windows.<ref name="CastelBrando"/> In 1700 the Brandolini family commissioned Ottavio Scotti, architect and Count of Treviso, to design and build an extension to the southern part of the castle.<ref name="Colomban69"/> Part of these works included the building of a castle chapel, the Church of San Martino. The chapel was decorated internally with frescoes painted by Egidio Dall'Oglio (18th century).<ref name="Colomban69"/><ref>Merriman,Mira P: 1986, Page 181</ref>
During World War I, the castle was invaded by Imperial Austrian forces and used as a military hospital.<ref name="Pieve"/><ref name="Villas">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvorci.hr/dokumenti/Clanci/0104_galli.pdf|title=The Veneto villas historical context and the current state|last=Galli|first=Roberta|author2=Roberta Galli|author3=Sara Scrimieri|publisher=© 2006 Villas Stately Homes and Castles, Varaždin, Croatia|access-date=2009-09-24}}</ref> The Brandolini family abandoned their home and escaped to their Solighetto villa near Pieve di Soligo.<ref name="Pieve"/><ref name="Villas"/> After 10 years of restoration work, financed by Count Girolamo IV Brandolini (1870–1935), the castle was re-opened as a place of residence in 1929.<ref name="Venicecountry"/> In 1959 the castle was sold by the Brandolini family to the Salesian fathers,<ref name="Venicecountry"/> who altered its structure to use it as a monastery and as a centre for spiritual studies.<ref name="CastelBrando"/> In 1997 CastelBrando was purchased by Quaternary Investments SpA, who started an expansive renovation program in order to convert it into a hotel and museum.<ref name="Comune"/><ref name="Discover">{{cite web|url=http://www.discovertreviso.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=190:castelli&id=558:castel-brando&Itemid=88&lang=en|title=Discover Treviso: CastelBrando|publisher=Copyright © 2009, DiscoverTreviso.Com|access-date=2009-09-24}}</ref>
==Present day==
CastelBrando has now been extensively restored and now houses a 4-star hotel, museum and a theatre.<ref name="Lim"/> Visitors can get up to the castle by funicular railway from the village.<ref name="Lim"/>
CastelBrando has several museum exhibits including carriages, weapons, costumes, and musical instruments.<ref>{{Multiref2 |1={{Cite web |title=Castelbrando: a step back into history in Veneto Hills |url=https://www.monicacesarato.com/blog/castelbrando-a-step-back-into-history-in-veneto-hills/ |first=Monica |last=Cesarato |date=8 August 2021 |website=monicacesarato.com}} |2={{Cite web |title=CastelBrando Museum – Cison di Valmarino |url=https://www.italybyevents.com/en/events/castelbrando-museum-cison-valmarino |website=Italy by Events |date=21 June 2020}} }}</ref>
On 18–20 April 2009 CastelBrando hosted the first ever G8 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting<ref name="CastelBrando"/><ref name="G8">{{cite web|url=http://www.g8agricultureministersmeeting.mipaaf.com/en/|title=G8 Agriculture Ministers' meeting |website= Ministero Delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali |access-date=2009-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420041120/http://www.g8agricultureministersmeeting.mipaaf.com/en/ |archive-date=2009-04-20}}</ref> organised by the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Luca Zaia.<ref name="G8"/>
==See also== *List of castles in Italy
==Gallery== <gallery> File:CastelBrando2.jpg|View of the battlements, in the direction of the village of Follina File:Castelbrando, Cison di Valmarino, Italy.jpg|CastelBrando at night File:Castelbrando Courtyard.jpg|Lower inner courtyard </gallery>
==References==
===Sources=== *{{cite book|first=Enrica|last=Angella|author2=Pietro Bongi|title=Sulle terre dei da Camino|publisher=Bubola & Naibo|location=Pieve di Soligo|year=1993}} *{{cite book|first=Laura|last=Colomban|author2=Carlo Lombardo|title=CastelBrando – Un favoloso castello fra i più grandi e antichi d'Europa|publisher=Toast Collective|location=Cison di Valmarino|year=2009|ref=Colomban69}} *{{cite book|last=Fabris|first=Marissa |title=Adventure Guide to Venice & the Veneto|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oLEheTRAbFEC&pg=PA169|access-date=25 February 2010|date=15 December 2005|publisher=Hunter Publishing, Inc|isbn=978-1-58843-519-4|ref=Fabris69}} *{{cite book|first=Mira P|last=Merriman|author2=Giovanna Perini|year=1986|title=Giuseppe Maria Crespi and the Emergence of Genre Painting in Italy|editor=William B. Jordan|isbn=978-0-912804-25-5|publisher=Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, USA|url=https://openlibrary.org/b/OL9376725M/GIUSEPPE_MARIA_CRESPI_AND_THE_EMERGENCE_OF_GENRE_PAINTING_IN_ITALY|ref=Spike69|access-date=2016-02-12}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.hotelcastelbrando.com/hotel-treviso-storia-en.htm |title=CastelBrando official site – History |publisher=Hotel CastelBrando |access-date=2009-09-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825021728/http://www.hotelcastelbrando.com/hotel-treviso-storia-en.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2009 }} ;Attribution *{{CIA World Factbook}}
===Notes=== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.hotelcastelbrando.com/en/ Hotel CastelBrando] – includes visiting and museum information * [http://www.icastelli.net/en/castelbrando online availability and rates] – icastelli.net *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090530132559/http://www.geschichte-tirol.com/zum-thema/transit-durch-tirol-im-mittelalter/die-via-claudia-augusta-516.html Via Claudia Augusta] {{in lang|de}} *[http://www.g8agricultureministersmeeting.mipaaf.com/en/ G8 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090714062542/http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/Home/IncontriMinisteriali/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_MinisterialeAgricoltura.htm G8 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting – Official Website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231409/http://www.narnia.it/gattamelata.htm Narni Town – information about Erasmo da Narni] {{in lang|it}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castelbrando}} Category:Castles in Veneto Category:Protected areas of Italy Category:Museums in Veneto Category:History museums in Italy Category:Carriage museums in Italy Category:Buildings and structures in the Province of Treviso