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Bornato Castle is certainly one of the best places symbolising Franciacorta and representing its history. It is a rare
example of Renaissance villa (16th century) built inside a medieval castle (13th century).
The original core was an ancient Roman castrum built to control the consular road linking Brescia and Bergamo. In
the early Middle Ages Inverardo da Bornato strengthened the fortress within the battlemented walls, building towers
and buttresses, moats and drawbridge.
Starting from 1562 the Gandini family, the new owners of the castle, widened the central core with rooms and
frescoed halls, giving the building the look of a Renaissance villa, kept till today.
In the centuries the castle turned into an important political and cultural centre, with artists and poets visiting
the place, most known is Dante Alighieri. In the 15th century the fortified building lived the vicissitudes linked to the
wars between Venetian Republic and the Visconti Duke of Milan.
The rooms of the villa are frescoed and retain their brilliance with the atmosphere of a private and lived in home.
In the dining room the table is set up with Herend and Richard Ginori porcelain used daily in the past.
The park hosts an Italian garden to the south and an english garden to the north.
There are several trees aged more than hundred years: cedars of Lebanon, deodara cedars, ginkgo biloba and, very
rare, a sophora japonica dated 200 years, the only one survivor of the first imported into Europe at the end of 1700.
In the woods northeast you can also visit a romantic grotto built in 1800 in medieval dungeons.
In the ancient cellars located under the main tower of the castle, for 700 years the wine labelled Castello di
Bornato has been produced until the early 2000.
In the underground area, oak barrels over 50 years old for red wine are still in place. In the other part of the cellar 8
barrels glass blocks have been used up to the 70s for white wine and a small barrel of cement for the red wine.
Today the production of wine, one of the most prestigious labels of Franciacorta, is decentralized to accommodate
modern machinery and follow the latest techniques in terms of organic winemaking. Produced in small quantities of
excellent quality and bottled only in the best vintages, the wine can be tasted and bought in the premises.
THE VISIT OF THE CASTLE AND THE CELLAR
The Castle is open to the public for guided tours of the interior of Villa Orlando with its beautiful frescoed halls,
the park with the Italian garden, the crenellated walls that surround the castle,
the private chapel at the base of the tower and the secret cave.
The visit continues with the ancient cellar located in the basement where you can admire the oak barrels for red wine
and barrels in glass block, used up to the 70s for white wine.
In the small museum area a little exposition of antique equipment hosts a deraspatore, two presses, a corker, a filter,
an electric pump, a bottler, a hand pump, all dated in the 50s.
The tour ends with an important highlight: the wine tasting of the production of the Castle Wine farm:
Curtefranca red, Curtefranca white and, on request, Franciacorta Brut, all from organic grapes.
The wine can be purchased in the premises.
OPENING HOURS
From mid-March to mid-November, on Sundays and holidays from 10 am to 12 am and from 2.30 pm to 6 pm.
For groups (min. 20 persons), the castle is open every day of the year on reservation.
SERVICES
Guided tours, wine tasting, wine sales, information about the area,
Restaurant Palafreno in the previous stables adjacent the walls, apartments in the Castle inn.
ACCESSO
A4 Milan - Venice, exit Rovato, at the roundabout turn right and then follow the signs to Bornato.
By train: Brescia - Iseo - Edolo, stop Bornato (300 m. From the Castle)
INFORMATION AND RESERVATION
CASTELLO DI BORNATO
Via Castello, 24 - 25046 Bornato (BS)
Tel. +39 030 725006 - Mobile +39 339 1667402 - Fax. +39 030 725006
[email protected] - www.castellodibornato.com