CastelBrando Castel Brando is a medieval castle situated on a dolomite limestone rock at an elevation of above sea level , overlooking the villages of Cison di Valmarino and Valmareno , Northern Italy . History . Castel Brando was originally built in the Roman age as a defensive fortress in order to protect the important lines of communication which connected Northern Italy to the countries on the other side of the Alps . Originally there was a garrison here protecting the territory between the Piave and the Livenza rivers in order to facilitate the safe construction of the pre - alpine part of the Via Claudia Augusta , an important Roman road , which linked the valley of the Po River with Rhaetia ( modern Austria ) . The original castrum , dating from 46 AD is still visible today . A recent archaeological excavation has uncovered a diameter bread - oven within the castrum , dating from the same period . The original Roman baths have also been excavated , as have the original pipes of the aqueduct which supplied water from three nearby natural springs . These springs still provide water for the castle today . During the European Migration Period the fortress became an important defensive position against barbarian invasions . Over the centuries the castle has been subject to numerous enlargements and renovations . During the 13th century the castle was substantially enlarged while under the ownership of the Da Camino family , who lived there from 1233 to 1335 . Their architectural additions included surrounding the castle with imposing Guelph - Ghibelline style battlements and building a central tower . Gherardo III da Camino , the great Italian feudal lord and military leader was born in the castle in 1240 . The Castle ' s ownership then passed over to the Republic of Venice , which awarded the Castle ' s fiefdom first to Marin Faliero and then to the condottieri Giovanni Brandolino and Erasmo da Narni , better known as " Gattamelata " . After the fall of Venetian Republic in 1797 , it was passed down through the family of Giovanni Brandolino and became the property of the Brandolini Counts . In the first half of the 16th century Antonio Maria Brandolini ( 1476 – 1522 ) , commissioned skilled engineers to enlarge the central part of the castle in Sansovino style , adding Venetian Gothic double and triple mullion ed windows . In 1700 the Brandolini family commissioned Ottavio Scotti , architect and Count of Treviso , to design and build an extension to the southern part of the castle . Part of these works included the building of a castle chapel , the Church of San Martino . The chapel was decorated internally with frescoes painted by Egidio Dall ' Oglio ( 18th century ) . During World War I , the castle was invaded by Imperial Austrian forces and used as a military hospital . The Brandolini family abandoned their home and escaped to their Solighetto villa near Pieve di Soligo . After 10 years of restoration work , financed by Count Girolamo IV Brandolini ( 1870 – 1935 ) , the castle was re - opened as a place of residence in 1929 . In 1959 the castle was sold by the Brandolini family to the Salesian fathers , who altered its structure to use it as a monastery and as a centre for spiritual studies . In 1997 Castel Brando was purchased by Quaternary Investments SpA , who started an expansive renovation program in order to convert it into a hotel and museum . Present day . Castel Brando has now been extensively restored and now houses a 4 - star hotel , museum and a theatre . Visitors can get up to the castle by funicular railway from the village . On 18 – 20 April 2009 Castel Brando hosted the first ever G8 Agriculture Ministers ' Meeting organised by the Italian Minister of Agriculture , Luca Zaia .