The castle of Cassino Scanasio, called in some documents the castle of Rozzano, is a defensive building of medieval origin in the hamlet of Cassino Scanasio. It is thought to go back to the eleventh century, when documents first mention a fortified rural building called «casinae scanasane», with rights over the surrounding land; the structures visible today, however, would date from the fourteenth century. It stands near Milan's western ring road, in a position once strategic for controlling access to the city and the countryside.
What to see
The castle has a quadrangular plan. In the early sixteenth century it was bought by the Milanese Trivulzio family, who turned it from a stronghold into a country residence and had the distinctive round towers built, added therefore after the walls. It was once surrounded by a water-filled moat: the moat has been filled in, hiding the base of the towers, which is why they look squatter.
The entrance is by a masonry bridge and a brick ravelin, which replaced the old wooden drawbridge. The façade has pointed single-light windows in Gothic style.
Visiting
In 1638 the castle belonged to the Pirovano, then passed to the Della Croce; in 1836 it was bought by the Visconti di Modrone, who turned it into a farm. Any visits should be checked with the municipality of Rozzano.
Our editors' tip
At the entrance look up at the keystone of the arch: carved on it is the biscione, the serpent emblem of the Visconti.
