Castel Baradello rises on the homonymous hill (430 m a.s.l.) that dominates the city of Como, closing on the south-west side the valley.
From the hill you can enjoy a panorama that sweeps from the lake to the city, from the peaks of the Alps to the Po Valley and the Apennines. Il suo massiccio torrione a base quadrata è ben visibile per chi giunge a Como.
Castel Baradello, symbol of Spina Verde Park, is a fortification built by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa on the remains of older buildings. The castle was built in a strategic place and, thanks to its elevated position over the city, allowed the control of the whole surrounding area. It was dismantled after 1526 by the Spanish invaders.
Inside the Tower it is possible to visit a museum that displays to the public archaeological finds from the excavations conducted at Baradello by the architect Luigi Mario Belloni in the seventies and materials recovered during the excavation campaigns conducted in the years 2008-2010 under the direction of the Civic Museums of Como, under concession from the Ministry. In fact, the new exhibition was created in close collaboration between the Archaeological Museum, Spina Verde Park and the Superintendence.
The origin of the Baradello Castle dates back to the early Middle Ages (V-VII century A.D.), a period in which in the border areas a defense system ("limes") was created, consisting of fortifications, barrages, watchtowers and castles of which Baradello was part.
Over the centuries the Castle has become one of the symbols of the city of Como in the world, it has been commemorated and described by many writers and poets and finally it has become the symbol of the Regional Park Spina Verde of Como.
The Castle can be visited only by guided tour, about 40 minutes, departure from the Castle entrance every hour on Saturdays and Sundays. Time slot: from 9:30 to 18:00.
Tour guidato serale di circa 90 min con partenza dall'accesso al Parco di piazza Camerlata ogni sabato h 21:30.