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https://www.fortedifuentes.it/
Visit the Forte di Fuentes, Colico - Lake Como
It was only in the 12th century, after the reclamation works of the marshlands of the wide plain and the reopening of the roads towards the many alpine passes made by the Spaniards that Colico once more became an important strategic settlement.
During that century, from Spain came to Lombardy the Count of Fuentes who, having understood the strategic importance of Upper Larius, had a fortress built at the mouth of the river Adda, on the hillock Monteggiolo in the neighbour of Colico; the area that had later to be called Pian di Spagna.
The main purpose of this grand work of military engineering was to protect the State of Milan either from the endless incursions of the Grisons, who had always aimed to possess the Upper Larius Lands, or to keep safe the routes of communication with Europe and Spain through the alpine passes in case of war. When it was built, the Fort was set on top of a hillock at the left side of the river Adda, as if to close for a better control the roads towards Milan and Lecco, but nowadays, after the final stretch of the river had been deviated, it raises right by the bank of the river Adda.
Its plan was of trapezoidal shape with star-shaped bastions and followed the military patterns of the time. Its major axis was as long as 370 meters; it was supplied with barracks for soldiers, with and hospital and a chapel and, with a orderly room, a warehouses and, of course, the residential palace for the commander in chief; in other words, it was a true Military Citadel.
The fort was demilitarized in 1782 and dismantled in 1796. Nowadays, some rests of the imposing compound had been restored and open to the public. Immerged in the green you can see the Chapel, the barracks and some other buildings, while the star shaped bastions, which were the characteristic of the fortress, have completely disappeared. It is curious to know that the Count of Fuentes, the deviser and author of the fort; the man who bound his name to a wide zone in Upper Larius , came to visit the fortress only once in 1605.
To visit the Fort, please check the Official website.
