The 11th-century Castello di Desenzano del Garda

The Castello di Desenzano is a fortified construction that towers over the town of Desenzano del Garda in the province of Brescia. Built in the 11th century with four corner towers, it may have been constructed on a Roman castrum or vicus. Around 1030, the Emperor Enrico II assigned the county of Desenzano and the castle to the rural count Bosone.

The castle was strategically important from a defensive and military point of view, as it contained several dwellings. At the end of the 19th century, the property passed to the state and housed a military garrison where alpini and bersaglieri were stationed.

In 1969, the castle became the property of the municipality. Today, its rooms host exhibitions, conferences, and civil weddings. The most advanced part of the entrance tower still bears the marks of a drawbridge that no longer exists.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons