The castle of the Unnamed (Castello dell’InnSwitch to Content Composerominato) in Somasca Vercurago among The Betrothed of Manzoni, history and wonderful landscapes on Lake Como.

The Castle of the Unnamed (Castello dell’Innominato) evokes The Betrothed written by Alessandro Manzoni, but its history dates back to the Carolingian period.
At that time on the hill of Somasca, the upper district of Vercurago, there was a signalling tower, that became a fortress some centuries later, in fact we read about it thanks to Frederick Redbeard (1158). Unfortunately we have no info about what happened to the fortress during the following centuries. Maybe it was interested in the fight of Visconti’s family for the domination of the duchy of Milan.

From 1454 this land felt into the clutches of the Republic of Venice and the Adda River became the natural border between the Serenissima (Venice) and the duchy of Milan.
The fortress was destroyed by the French, who begun some months before a war against Venice and the bailey was shelled by the Russian in 1799 during the battle between the Napoleonic troops and the Austro-Russian.

What does remain up today of the castle mentioned by Manzoni and prison of Lucia, one of the protagonist of his masterpiece?
As soon as we arrive by car in Somasca, we go on walking along the way of the Chapels to reach the hermitage of San Girolamo Emiliani. Here you continue on the path rising the hill and arrive to the castle. Pass through the stone arch and you are in the are of the old fortress. Here you can see the small Chapel with a fresco on the apses wall  and along the ruins of the bailey you can admire the wonderful landscapes and sights on the eastern branch of Lake Como to the Alps (north) and the flow of the Adda River (south).

Where is the castle of the Unnamed?

Castello dell’Innominato Via Don Serafino Morazzone, 23900 Vercurago – Lecco

Articolo aggiornato il 16 August 2022 da eccoLecco