The Visconti Castle of Binasco is famed for having been the prison of Beatrice di Tenda (Duchess of Milan and wife of Filippo Maria Visconti), who was arrested and there sentenced to death for adultery in 1418. Today it is the seat of the municipality of Binasco.
The castle originated from a stronghold built by the Visconti in the 14th century to take care of their land in the area. Probably between 1315 and 1319 the nearby church of Saint Stephan was founded and the castle built by Luchino Visconti, Lord of Milan. The first mention of a castle in Binasco dates back to 1329, when it was used by Azzone Visconti and his uncle Giovanni as a prison for their political opponents.
In the 17th century the castle underwent transformations and restorations. At the end of the 19th century it was sacked during the Napoleonic age and in 1869 hit by a ruinous fire. The current aspect is the result of subsequent restorations that gave back the sense of the ancient fortress. Two towers are still visible along the south front.
References:
Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.
The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.
These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.