In 1303, due to continuous invasions from the Valais area, a pentagonal wall was built around the village of Domodossola, along with a castle that overlooked current Piazza Tibaldi. Starting from the castle, the walls ran along the modern-day streets of Canuto, Monte Grappa, Facchinetti, Marconi and Fratelli Di Dio. A deep ditch was dug around the walls, which, due to the inclination of the plane on which the village is built, was not filled with water, though it was an equally effective means of defence.
The village of Domodossola remained impenetrable and was closed off from the outside world between evening and morning prayers: the keys of the gates were kept in the castle and people were required to stay in their homes at night. The walls, although they were not especially thick, were reinforced inside and lined with walkways used for defensive purposes.
In the 19th century, the castle was used as a military garrison, however, both the walls and the fortification were partly demolished to create the Napoleonic Simplon Pass.
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