The charming village of Calcio, located on the plains southeast of Bergamo, boasts beautiful frescoes and splendid residences, including the Oldofredi Castle.
The protagonist of countless vicissitudes, Oldofredi Castle was one of the oldest dwellings of the “condominium” feudal lords who, starting in the 14th century, inhabited these places.
The main representative of the “condominium” was the Secco family, which owned it since 1380.
Worth mentioning, the most distinguished figure in the Castle, Count Ercole Oldofredi Tadini who actively participated in the Risorgimento process and specifically in the insurrectional uprisings of the Five Days of Milan and was forced to flee following the return of the Austrians to Milan.
The Count continued his political activities from a distance, leaving the complete management of the building to his wife.
As the years passed, the Count took on prestigious political roles until he was appointed senator of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
There are a number of notable figures who have made the history of Calcio, among them surely Napoleon III, who, shortly before the bloody battle of Solferino, lodged with his troops in this very castle.
Nestled in the Po Valley countryside, on the border marked by the Oglio River, is an elegant palace whose structure evokes a noble villa surrounded by a defensive moat.
Inside, numerous frescoes adorn its walls, testifying to significant historical events.
Today this beautiful residence is inhabited by a small community of nuns from the Order of Passionists who have established a vocational school there for young people in need.
The building, which can only be visited during special events, recently hosted an exhibition as unusual as it is interesting, entitled “In your arms the heart does not grow old,” a line from a poem by Alda Merini, another prominent figure in the history of Calcio.
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