Barbò Castle

History

Birth and sieges

It was built in the 12th century to defend the village in the constant conflicts with neighbouring Rudiano, linked to control of the crossing over the Oglio. The rammed-earth walls were replaced in the 13th century by brick fortifications. In 1366 Bernabò Visconti granted the territory of the Calciana to his wife Regina della Scala, to whom the rebuilding of the castle is owed. In 1380, with the division of the lands, it passed to the Barbò. In the early 15th century it endured a four-month siege by the condottiero Cabrino Fondulo.

The Barbò and the Municipality

Around 1425 the castle returned to the Barbò, who lived there until the 1980s. It was then ceded to the Municipality, which restored it in the early 2000s and made it the town hall and library.

Layout

It has a trapezoidal plan on an embankment bathed on the east by the Naviglio. The three towers are the keep in the north-west (once a prison, with an external staircase), an eastern tower of which traces remain, and the access tower in the west. Remains of the moat and a ravelin survive, beyond which the inner courtyard opens.

Where it is

Pumenengo is a municipality in the province of Bergamo, in Lombardy, on the plain near the Oglio river.

Practical information

Tickets and where to buy them

To be confirmed: as the town hall, entry to the offices is free during the Municipality’s opening hours; for guided visits contact the Municipality.

Opening days and hours

To be confirmed: no opening hours are published in the official sources consulted.

Where to eat

To be confirmed: in the nearby town there are generally places to eat, but we have not verified addresses and hours.

Parking and services

To be confirmed: the sources consulted indicate no dedicated parking or services.

Accessibility and other information

To be confirmed. The castle houses offices and a library; ask the Municipality about accessibility.

Opening hours, prices and services change often: before visiting, call the official number or check the castle’s website. Last checked: November 2026.

Sources: Castello Barbò (Pumenengo) (Wikipedia).