Crowning the mountainside just
above the village of Tovo S. Agata, the castle of Bellaguarda is perhaps
considered one of Valtellina’s most elaborate examples. Owned by the Venosta
family until 1712, Bellaguarda is one of the few fortifications in the valley
that still stands tall in the present day, boasting a big chunk of its original
structure thanks to various restoration efforts over the years.
With a triangular floor plan, this three-storey castle was built with
crenellated walls, which are battlement projections called merlons. The tallest
structure is the watchtower, which dates to 1226 – a whole century earlier than
the rest of the complex, first mentioned in 1340. To round off the imposing
fortifications, the ground-level guardhouse next to the central building has
numerous windows and arrow loops.
