Italian
The true story of a visionary entrepreneur and the castle that has journeyed through two thousand years of history to come alive again in the present.
CISON DI VALMARINO – There is a place in the heart of the Treviso Prealps that defies time. A place where you walk on Roman stones, sleep in princely rooms, and breathe the echo of centuries. This is CastelBrando, one of the largest and oldest fortresses in Europe, suspended between history, culture, and innovation. But this is not just the story of a castle. It is the story of an entrepreneur, Massimo Colomban, and his visionary endeavor: to bring life, function, and beauty back to an architectural giant that had been forgotten.
A Two-Thousand-Year-Long Story
CastelBrando is not just a castle: it is a historical palimpsest. Its origins date back to Roman times, when the site housed a *castrum*, a military fortification guarding the Via Claudia Augusta. Over the centuries, the castle was expanded, transformed, enriched. In the Early Middle Ages, it became a Lombard stronghold, then the noble residence of the powerful Brandolini family, allies of the Venetian Republic.
Every era left its mark: crenellated towers, Renaissance frescoes, Baroque furnishings, monumental staircases, ballrooms, and private chapels.
But the twentieth century was the time of decline. After wars and abandonment, the castle seemed destined for silence. Until, in 1998, Massimo Colomban acquired the property and launched one of the most ambitious restoration projects ever attempted by a private individual in Italy.
An Unprecedented Restoration
The project lasted over six years and involved dozens of professionals: architects, art historians, engineers, restorers, and artisans. The goal was not merely aesthetic: CastelBrando had to come back to life, without losing its soul.
Colomban aimed for a philological yet intelligent restoration, capable of discreetly integrating modern technologies. The entire structure was made earthquake-resistant, while respecting the delicate balance of the artistic heritage.
Invisible Technology: The Warmth of Ancient “Stube”
One of the castle’s most fascinating techniques is the radiant heating system, connected to a cast-iron boiler designed by Count Scotti in 1720 to distribute heat throughout the rooms. The hot air generated by the original wood-fired boiler, now replaced with a gas one, was distributed through a system of ducts inside the central walls, about one meter thick. CastelBrando, like a giant *stube*, still heats its halls and salons today, from the third to the seventh level, without circulating air or dust—offering silent and uniform thermal comfort. It is a sustainable, invisible, and cost-effective solution, ideal for preserving frescoes, antique furniture, and historic floors. The warmth spreads like an ancient embrace, respecting the beauty and materials of time.
Wellness Amid History and Nature
What makes CastelBrando even more surprising is the presence of a wellness center nestled within its ancient walls. An intimate, elegant, and quiet place where history meets relaxation.
The spa offers panoramic whirlpools, a restored Roman bath, Finnish saunas, emotional showers, and rooms for holistic and aesthetic treatments. The wellness paths are designed to rejuvenate body and spirit, surrounded by a unique atmosphere: frescoed vaults, exposed stone, and panoramic views of the Prosecco hills.
The Art of Hospitality: Between History, Flavors, and Conviviality
CastelBrando is not only a place to admire but also to experience. Walking through its frescoed halls and corridors, Venetian-style floors, stuccoes, and sculptures is a multisensory journey that also delights the palate. Here, hospitality is an art cultivated with care and passion.
Inside the castle are restaurants and cafés, each with a distinct identity: from the refined cuisine of the panoramic and elegant Sansovino Restaurant, to the medieval ambiance of the Castle Tavern, to the gourmet experience of La Fucina, offering modern reinterpretations of traditional local dishes.
The cuisine enhances local products, Venetian traditions, and the wines of the surrounding hills, creating a symphony of flavors that tells the story of the place—where, among other things, Mascarpone, a key ingredient in Tiramisu, was discovered 90 years ago.
A Castle for the Future
Today, CastelBrando is much more than a monument. It is a boutique hotel, a conference center, a training school, a museum, a place of culture and wellness. It hosts international events, concerts, ceremonies, conferences, and art exhibitions.
It has once again become a “living citadel,” as it was during its golden centuries. And all this is thanks to a bold and forward-looking entrepreneurial vision. Because – as Massimo Colomban says –
“Recovering the past is the most courageous and sustainable way to build the future.”
