Pavone Castle was originally built between the 9th and the 11th century. At the beginning of the 13th century, the castle went to the Romano family and, several years later, Oberto, the new bishop of Ivrea, got it back. In the 14th century, its first and major reconstruction took place. In the 15th century, the castle was abandoned, but, at the end of the century, Bishop Bonifacio Ferrero gave the go-ahead for new reconstruction: building a staircase, enlarging the residential area, and recuperating the external tower.
Wars between Francesco I and Carlo V caused new damage and destruction to the castle, which, following the Napoleonic invasions, was almost completely destroyed.
In 1888, the castle started undergoing renovation works under the direction of architect Alfredo d'Andrade, which were later completed, after his death, by his son Ruy d'Andrade. Several years ago, the castle was turned into a hotel-restaurant and Convention Center.
References:Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.