The Roccella Ionica Castle sits on a rocky promontory at 104 meters, overlooking the village. Founded during the Norman period by Gualtieri De Collepietro, it later passed to the Ruffo family, then to Galeotto Baldaxi, and finally to the Carafa della Spina family, who restored it between 1479 and 1806. The fortress withstood attacks, including from Turkish corsair Dragut Pasha in 1553. The palace features ruins, including a stone portal with the Carafa crest, a monumental balcony with carved figures, and a courtyard with a star-shaped drainage system. Next to the castle is the Baroque-style Mother Church of St. Nicholas, once connected to the palace by a private choir. The church houses valuable polychrome marble altars, now national monuments.
Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.
The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.
Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.