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Cardinal Branda Castiglioni (ca. 1360–1443) was one of the most prominent figures in the Church during the first half of the 15th century. He came from a noble family in Milan, who introduced him to the study of law in Pavia. He graduated in Canon Law and became an Auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota. Thanks to his training and his connections, he secured ecclesiastical positions in Germany and Hungary, where he became acquainted with prelates and religious figures from central Europe before becoming Bishop of Piacenza in 1404 and a cardinal in 1411. Active in diplomacy, he contributed to resolving the Great Schism and facilitated the union with the Eastern Church. He played a crucial role in the Councils of Constance, Basel, and Florence, establishing close relationships with popes and important politicians such as Sigismund of Hungary, Filippo Maria Visconti, and Cosimo de Medici. A man of culture and a patron of the arts, Cardinal Branda initiated, in the early 15th century, the transformation of the Borgo of Castiglione. He consecrated the Collegiate Church of the Protomartyrs Stefano and Lorenzo, expanded Palazzo Branda Castiglioni, built the Chiesa di Villa, and renovated Palazzo dei Familiari and other buildings, including the Castiglioni di Monteruzzo mansion (now the Map Museum).

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Welcome to Palazzo Branda Castiglioni