History

The Medieval Castle of Cordovado was built on the remains of an ancient Roman castrum, to guard a river ford along the Via Augusta.

The Medieval Castle of Cordovado was built on the remains of an ancient Roman castrum, located on a branch, now drained, of River Tagliamento to guard a river ford along the Via Augusta. The river represented the border of the Patriarchate of Concordia Sagittaria, of which Cordovado was a feud.

The Bishops of Concordia ruled over Cordovado through emissaries, called gastaldi, from the Ridolfi family. The family resided there permanently, guarding the castle and exercising administrative and judicial power.

Around the middle of the sixteenth century, the Counts d’Attimis acquired the property of the Castle through marriage. In the eighteenth century the Castle became the property of the Counts Freschi di Cucanea through marriage.

Gherardo Freschi Cucanea stands out as one of the most prominent members of the family: a renowned intellectual and agronomist, he took a special interest in his farmers’ living conditions. Moreover, he introduced sericulture so as to allow women in difficult circumstances to earn a living.

Sigismondo, Gherardo’s brother, was an intellectual, an alchemist and a musician. We owe to him the creation of the beautiful park that still surrounds the castle.

Antonio, Sigismondo’s son, was a passionate musician and composer and enriched the life at the Castle with concerts and musical events. The distinguished violinist and composer Antonio Bazzini was one of many musicians who regularly attended Antonio’s musical salon.

Antonio’s wife Carlotta was very fond of music too and a good pianist. Moreover, she was the one who introduced roses to the garden: thanks to a passion that was passed down from one generation to the next, the same roses can still be admired today.

Carlo Freschi, son of Antonio and Carlotta Freschi, married the beautiful Countess Eleonora Sparavieri from Verona. He undertook a diplomatic career and, at the outbreak of the First World War, he served his country.

Antonio Luigi, Carlo’s son, died at a very young age during the Second World War, leaving the family property to his sister Nicoletta. She was married to Count Lorenzo Piccolomini Clementini Adami, a member of the famous aristocratic family from Siena. Nicoletta was an eclectic and compassionate woman. She lived in the Castle till her death, taking a personal interest in the conservation, renovation and improvement of her properties within the village.

To ensure continuity of her project, Nicoletta left each one of her ten children a property within the Castle walls.

Thanks to her far-sightedness today the village is loved and lived.