The Castle of the Unnamed, legend and history of the fortress that inspired Alessandro Manzoni

Dear Reader,

As Daniela Uslan, I’m thrilled to recommend “The Castle of the Unnamed: Legend and History of the Fortress that Inspired Alessandro Manzoni.” This captivating book delves into the rich history of the mysterious fortress that played a crucial role in Manzoni’s masterpiece, “The Betrothed.”

Key facts:

• Located in Lombardy, Italy
• Dating back to the 13th century
• Also known as Castello dell’Innominato
• Perched atop a hill overlooking the Adda River

The author expertly weaves together historical records, local legends, and literary analysis to paint a vivid picture of this enigmatic structure. You’ll discover how the castle’s imposing presence and dark history inspired Manzoni’s portrayal of the Unnamed’s fortress.

With stunning photographs and detailed architectural descriptions, this book offers a unique glimpse into the intersection of literature and reality. It’s a must-read for fans of Italian literature, history buffs, and anyone fascinated by the power of place in storytelling..

It is from a rocky outcrop surrounded by greenery that, almost like an apparition, the remains of an ancient fortress of medieval origins emerge: it is the Fortress of Vercurago, which, however, most people know by the name Castello dell’Innominato. In fact, it appears to have been a source of inspiration for Alessandro Manzoni in his famous novel “I Promessi Sposi,” as the setting for one of his immortal characters. Let’s find out more about the history and legends surrounding this evocative manor house.

Where the Castle of the Unnamed is located.

We are in Lombardy, in a rugged and unspoiled place that lies on the border between the municipalities of Lecco and Vercurago, in a picturesque location with a splendid view of Lake Garlate. The ancient fortress stands on the Tremasasso-this is the name given to the small limestone hill that rises tohe slopes of Mount Magnodeno. There is a truly enchanting and mysterious atmosphere here, especially because of the many legends surrounding the castle. Once you arrive in front of the fortress (or at least what remains of it), you can enjoy a breathtaking view.

The Castle of the Unnamed, between history and legend

The Tremasasso, precisely because of its strategic location (from up here one can see the main waterways of the territory and even the southern foothills of Lake Como), has always been a place of military importance. Some excavations have shown the presence of artifacts dating back even to theGolasecchian era, which developed in northern Italy during the Iron Age. In Roman times, there was probably a military garrison on the top of the rocky promontory with a lookout function, of which, however, we have no more information.

To find the first hints of the Rocca di Vercurago, we have to reach the 13th century: at that time, the territory on which it stands was bitterly contested between Guelphs and Ghibellines, so the property passed from hand to hand without it being possible to this day to reconstruct its history faithfully. Events became somewhat clearer over the next century. In 1509, the castle was partially destroyed by French troops invading Lombardy, so it was used as a customs house. A few years later, the ruins of the manor. passed to the Duchy of Milan: the still intact buildings were used to house orphans, to establish a grammar school and seminary, and to house the congregation of the Clerics Regular of Somasca.

It was the members of the latter who preserved, at least as long as it was possible, what remained of the fortress. In 1628 it was in fact ceded by the Limonta family of Vercurago to the Somaschi Fathers, who took care of it until the complete destruction of the castle during the war between Napoleon and Austria in 1799. Over the course of the next two centuries, the manor house was slowly partially restored to its former glory, mainly because of its historical and literary importance. In fact, it seems that this is the place that inspired one of Alessandro Manzoni’s most famous characters, so much so that it took the name of Castle of the Unnamed.

The Rock in Alessandro Manzoni’s novel

The Rocca di Vercurago has a special role in the world of Italian literature: in fact, it is said that Alessandro Manzoni, in writing his historical novel “I Promessi Sposi”, was inspired by this ancient manor to set the residence of the Unnamed, the one who had poor Lucia kidnapped and held her prisoner within its impenetrable walls. The writer never denied this news, which began to spread as early as 1830 – in that year a map of Lecco with the locations of “I Promessi Sposi” (The Betrothed), including the very Castle of the Unnamed.

Manzoni never described the fortress exactly, although it is possible to identify notable similarities between the imaginary building and the real existing one. Moreover, the writer was in contact with the Somaschi Fathers for a long time, thanks to the time he spent in the colleges of Merate and Lugano. Not to mention that, at the beginning of the 20th chapter of the novel, there is a rich description that seems to correspond perfectly to the beautiful landscape surrounding the castle. It is in homage to this “legend” that today the manor houses thepermanent exhibition “The Fortress of the Unnamed among Landscape, History and Literature.”

What to see at the Castle of the Unnamed

The Castello dell’Innominato can be reached via a beautiful scenic trail that takes about 30 minutes to walk, starting from the nearby Sanctuary of San Girolamo (alternatively, there is also a 150-step staircase carved into the rock). Thus, one arrives in front of a low wall that is what remains of the ancient fortified fortress complex. Inside, a small tower that now houses the chapel of Saint Ambrose, medieval in origin – and more recently renovated in 1895 by architect Antonio Piccinelli.

The chapel was rebuilt in Neo-Romanesque style, with a rectangular plan culminating in an apse. The entrance consists of an archway, above which is a fresco of the Madonna, and a circular, truss-roofed window that houses a concrete statue of St. Jerome Emiliani. Inside are fine painted frescoes, one of which depicts St. Ambrose. Along with the chapel, the main tower of the castle: work began only when the foundations were found, which had been hidden by debris and vegetation for decades.

Workers employed local stones to rebuild a tower as high as 8 meters, taking care to give it a crumbling appearance as it should have been had it survived the Napoleonic War. The building, which was inspired by the neo-Gothic style, was later converted into the eleventh of the chapels of Sacro Monte di Somasca, and today houses some concrete statues by sculptor Eugenio Goglio, depicting the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves by St. Jerome Emiliani. Finally, at one time, near the castle stood a wooden crossion object of veneration by the inhabitants of the village of Vercurago. In the 1900s, it was replaced with the current iron crossion, illuminated by dozens of light bulbs and dedicated to war chaplain Father Giovanni Battista Pigato.