Historical Buildings

THE STRONGHOLD OF ANFO – ROCCA D’ANFO

The foundations of the Rocca d’Anfo were laid by the Republic of Venice, which governed the territory of Valsabbia from 1426 to 1797. For these works the Republic appointed Count G. Francesco Martinengo. The first step of the construction was a barrage which started from the shore of the lake and arrived to the overhanging rocks. It was composed by steps of granite between double enclosing walls. On the road leading towards Tyrol there were the quarters of the troops and the most important bastions in order to stop armed men. Another function of the buildings on the road was to collect taxes and tolls imposed on people, animals and goods passing through the passage. The double enclosing walls are still visible in the superior part of the stronghold.
As a consequence of the mutated war methods and technologies, in the Napoleonic times, a structural restoration of the territorial defensive system was necessary. Therefore, the Napoleonic engineers abandoned the Venetian structures and launched a magnificent plan of enlargement which had the hub in the northern rocky side of the mountain.
At the beginning the plan was committed to Francois Nicolas Benoit Haxo and successively to Liedot. They prepared the works by drafting a detailed cartography of the area, adapting the structures to the territorial conformation. The plan included the creation of two straight lines which led from the shore of the lake to the slopes of Mt Censo, then to the other side. The infantry and the artillery were installed between these two barriers. In order to reduce the escarpments the ground was terraced, building walls up to 10m high and connecting them to one another with stairs. The southern terrace close to the lake still has a parapet, behind which, it was possible to set all pieces of ordnance necessary to avert the hostile boats. On each terrace it was also necessary to install the cannons on the casemates in order to permit them to shoot.
The plans drawn by these engineers represent a fundamental step in the history of the cartographic methods. The edifices that were erected in as little as ten years (1802-1812) testify the effort to transform the Rocca d’Anfo into one of the most grandiose and mighty strongholds in Europe. The collapse of the Napoleonic Empire prevented the completion of the works in the medium-inferior part. The integrations of the structures were built firstly by the Austrians, and then by the Kingdom of Italy between 1860-1910.

THE STRONGHOLD OF SABBIO CHIESE

The two floors of the Rocca di Sabbio are nowadays occupied by two churches. Originally it was a fortified structure erected in order to protect the inferior part of Valsabbia. The structure is in a strategic position guarding the valley, in fact, it is located on a high ground at the confluence of the river Chiese and the stream Vrenda. This fortified place was part of a system with logistic points in the throughout Valsabbia which guaranteed security against the penetration of hostile populations. In particular, the stronghold is part of the fortresses erected during the Middle Ages, between the 9th and the 12th century in response to the danger of incursions by the Hungarians.
Its initial defensive vocation is well stressed by the presence of at least three enclosing walls surrounding the edifice: the first and most external, is shaped by house-towers still present along the rivers; the second includes the church of Saint Nicola at the foot of the slope towards the stronghold, which was built in the 16th century; and the third enclosing wall is constituted by the church square itself.
The Peace Treaty of Lodi signed in 1454, marked the beginning of the Venetian domination on the province of Brescia, and resulted in a calmer political situation and an improvement of general life conditions was assured. It seems that thanks to this quiet period the stronghold was transformed into a church. In particular it is likely that this transformation occurred after 1485, when the Venetian Republic reorganized its own defensive system, directing its efforts to the restoration of the strongholds located at the borders. For instance, the Rocca d’Anfo was fortified, while on the contrary the older fortresses such as the Rocca di Sabbio and the Rocca di Vobarno were left to decay. However, this transformation was completed within the year 1527, as it is reported on the hollow flat tiles made of fired brick that belong to the roof of the superior church.
The first documented mention dates back to 1558. It is a bull of the Pope Paolo VI, in which the jurisdiction of the Commune on the church of Saint Maria della Rocca is decreed. Despite the transformation into a church, the structure never lost its function of civil service. For example, the clock of the stronghold has been fundamental in the life of the village since the end of the 16th century.
Architecture
The structure is extremely interesting, above all being a stronghold transformed into two churches situated on two floors. The inferior church has cross vaults and pointed round arches. To the right of the entrance there is an altar dedicated to the Maternity of Mary, while to the left a wooden choir of the 18th century. In front there is a chapel with barrel-vault where the main altar was located. This church is structured following an atypical structure on three levels and its development is strongly conditioned by the coexistence with the preceding structure which had defensive characteristics. There are also two flights of stairs which lead to the superior church and make the edifice even more peculiar.
The superior church is much more luminous than the inferior and is structured as a typical church with a unique vault and a wooden trussed roof. The original hollow flat tiles in fired brick are still present and, in addition to interesting patterns, they report the year 1527, when, as it is logic to suppose, the construction was at the level of the roof and therefore close to its end.
The superior space is definitely less influenced by the preceding structure even if the section where the main altar (dedicated to the Modanna degli Osei) is located, leans straight and directly on the rock showing again that the construction is totally conditioned by already present elements.
The completion and enrichment of the edifice was reached with the erection of the elegant external porch in 1607, following the Renaissance style. The colonnade is composed by pointed round arches and made with white stone from Botticino.
Decoration
The decorative plan of the entire stronghold is extremely rich and various and reflects the genuine interest that the inhabitants had towards the edifice and in its adornment.
There are frescoes in both churches. In the inferior church there are remains of at least three decorative campaigns: the first was made exclusively with coloured strips during the period of the Middle Ages; the second was created in the 16th century with raceme and other decorations; and finally, the last, was crafted during the 20th century and limited to the vault of the main altar. The superior church holds votive frescoes mainly with Marian subjects painted towards the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. These frescoes have connections with the courtly culture of the international Gothic style but, at the same time, some of them are a result of the Renaissance novelty.
There are also some stuccos which characterise the altar of the Maternity and the chapel of the Annunciation, in the inferior church, and the Madonna degli Osei in the superior church. Despite being created in different periods they present each other with a strong artistic and formal coherence and can be considered close to the ambit of David Reti. This artist, active between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, made the Sanctuary of the Inviolate in Riva del Garda (Riva is the major town on the northern shore of Lake Garda). The works of Sabbio have many affinities with the works conserved in this sanctuary.
Wooden art works are also contained in the shrines of the church. In the inferior church there is an 18th century choir and some wooden polychrome altars, which show diversities and peculiarities that relate them to different artists. Finally, it is possible to remember the hands of the Boscaì studio in Levrange through the soasa of the Madonna degli Osei, which shows the freshness of the conception and the genuineness of the images.
Bibliography
L. PELIZZARI, Sabbio Chiese un paese nella storia, 2voll, Verona, 2002.
L. GHIDINELLI, V. GHEZZI, La Rocca di Sabbio Chiese. Da fortezza a santuario, Brescia, 2002.
A. BONOMI, Gli affreschi della chiesa superiore. Un viaggio di arte e di fede, in L. GHIDINELLI, V. GHEZZI, La Rocca di Sabbio Chiese. Da fortezza a santuario, Brescia, 2002, pp. 107-125.
Thematic Bibliography:
C. BRANDI, Teoria del restauro, Torino, 1063,
H. FOCILLON, Vita delle forme, Torini, 1972.

ROCCA DI NOZZA – STRONGHOLD OF NOZZA

The stronghold of Nozza was possibly built around the end of the first millennium. In 1401, it was destroyed by Barnabò Visconti and in 1632 rebuilt by Giovanni Linelli and Saint dell’Orsina who were military leaders for the Visconti family.
On the 3rd of November 1410, the Emperor of the Germanic Empire bestowed on Alberghino da Fusio the feud of the middle Valle Sabbia. Between 1410 and 1415 the Rocca was entrusted to Galvano from Nozza in order to defend the valley against the Visconti family. In 1427, when the valley joined forces with Venice which coincided with the construction of the Rocca d’Anfo, the Rocca di Nozza definitively lost defensive importance and eventually was transformed into a church.

FUSION FURNACE OF LIVEMMO

For centuries the economy of the villages in the municipal territories of Pertica Alta and Pertica Bassa were under the supremacy of the mine-metallurgical sector. The rich and vast reserve of forestall wealth, the plentiful water supply and the mineral veins coming from the mines of the close Valle Trompia, provided the opportunity of metallurgic activity from the beginning of the consolidation until a long time after.
Numerous signs of such a century-old productive tradition punctuate the landscape of several different localities. From the small lake of Bongi, it is possible to reach the site of the blast furnace of Livemmo, by following the path of the water pipe which carries the water of the Tovere stream to the artificial basin.
By the Tovere stream different stone arches are clearly visible, which are deposits of minerals stored in the path above. There are also large spaces that in the old days were destined to stockpile the final product. Such evidence has increased our knowledge about the architectonic structure of the workshops devoted to the production of cast iron.

VALLEDRANE FORTRESS

The shift of the Italian borders to Valle del Caffaro and Valvestino made from Treviso territory a strategic zone number one of military interest. As the danger of a possible war was imminent, Treviso was in 1908 fortified by a powerfull fortress on the premises of Valledrane,. The fortress was equipped in order to contrast the Austrian fortress of Lardaro. In that time there were drawn the milittary linking roads between Vestone and Valledrane, Vico, la Fobbia and consequently the Mount Manos. As on 24th May 1915 the war broke out, the territory was everywhere occupied by soldiers. They transformed the San Liberale sanctuary in a camp hospital. Moreover, the churches of Vico and Trebbio were also occupied, while the arcade of the Parish church became a shelter for the horses and donkeys. During the war 10 young men died, while others lost their lives in various accidents, mainly during the military exercise. As a war memorial a Column was erected here which was after the II World War replaced by the Remembrance park.
During the Movement of Resistence, some locals became a part of the Brigata delle Fiamme Verdi Perlasca/ Perlasca Brigade of the Green Flames. As the atmosphere in the village became unbereable, there was called a garrison by Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana/ National Republic Guard(G.N.R) seated in Valledrane. On 24th October 1944 the partisans succeded to seize and unarm10 Republican soldiers and take over 5 donkeys and their lorry. During the night of 20th March 1945 two small bombs hit an old house in the locality of Ruch, fortunately noone was killed or injured.
Today, the Valledrane fortress can be easily reached by a path. A visitor can see it in its complete artitectonical strenght. From this fortress start many interesting trekking and hiking tours. Moreover, from here you can enjoy a great panoramic view of the below lying Idro lake as well as the distant Dolomites of Brenta and Adamello Group.

ROCCA DI VOBARNO – STRONGHOLD OF VOBARNO

The stronghold of Vobarno was erected along the ancient “Teutonic road”, by the stream Agna, in order to guard Valsabbia from enemies. Almost nothing remains of the original structure, which was a crucial point of the territorial defensive strategy among Riviera, Valsabbia and Trentino.
The castle reached the maximum extension between the 11th and the 12th century, when the superior tower and the annexed tenements on the peak of the Cingolo, were walled in by a triple enclosing barrier that arrived to the river Chiese. Later, it became an element of dispute in many occasions and was stormed for the first time by the Scaligeri family in 1330, and a second time by Bernabò Visconti in 1362. On the last occasion the conquerors actuated a reprisal, by ravaging the Rocca and demolishing almost all of the fortifications.
During the first half of the 15th century the Rocca was still an instrument of war by hosting a lord of the castle, who was in pay of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, lord of Rimini. In this period the stronghold participated in the conflicts between Milan and Venice and was abandoned and transformed in oratory only at the end of the 15th century, as a consequence of the mutated political conditions of the territory.
The triple enclosing walls are still detectable around the hill of the Cingolo but are hidden by the vegetation.