From the outside this castle is an impregnable fortress. Inside is ample evidence of a court which enjoyed the finer things in life, with a lively interest in art and culture.

The Malpaga Castle is located in Cavernago, a small town within the Serio Nature Reserve. It was bought in 1456 by Bartolomeo Colleoni, a condottiere originally from Bergamo – Captain general of the Republic of Venice – who decided to make this castle his private residence.

The advent of gunpowder meant Colleoni was forced to heavily modify the castle’s defence system to adapt it to the new technologies. He also renovated the castle’s interior, with new frescoes portraying the active court life lead by a lord with a genuine interest in art and culture.

To this day the castle is surrounded by farmland and is the centre of many projects under the aegis of Permalpaga, an organisation aimed at innovating local agriculture, developing sustainable energy alternatives and restoring the ancient town centre as a hub of social life, events and cultural activities.