Urgnano Castle, Urgnano, Italy

Urgnano castle was built in the 14th century to the site of older medieval fort. Throughout history, this Castle belonged to the Republic of Venice and many well-known families, such as Barbarossa, Visconti, Sforza, Malatesta and Colleoni. It was also sold to G. Gerolamo Albani, who became Cardinal Albani in Rome. This castle has been a property of the Municipality since 1953.

The castle has a square plan with a tower at each corner. It is surrounded by a moat, which had a defensive function, and it is made of cotto tiles, a characteristic related to the architectural style of the Visconti. The castle has two entrances. One is part of the massive north tower, which was used to monitor the drawbridge. The other entrance corresponds to the tower on the opposite side of the castle.

The inner area of the castle can be divided into two parts. In the eastern part there is a yard, while in the western part there is a roof garden where you can see nine small caricatures, which in the XVIII century were an expression of the grotesque.

References:

pianuradascoprire.it

Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

Natalie (3 years ago)
Free Historic

Anna Polom (6 years ago)
Shame it was closed!!! Seems like a nice castle but not open to visitors, not even the garden. It looks like it's open only on specific days like once a month

Laura Ceribelli (6 years ago)
Super!!

Alessandro Manieri (6 years ago)
Old is gold

Urgnano Castle

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Sigmaringen Castle