Medieval castles in Piedmont
Parella Castle
Parella castle dates from the 13th century and was rebuilt in the 17h century. The castle is well preserved and contains valuable frescoes.
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Parella, Italy
Pomaro Monferrato Castle
Pomaro Monferrato Castle was built in the 12th century by Aleramici family. In the 16th century it was in hands of Paleologi family, who altered it to a summer residence. Most of fortifications were destroyed in 1637 by Spanish army. Today the castle is a venue for events and weddings.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Pomaro Monferrato, Italy
San Giorgio Monferrato Castle
San Giorgio Monferrato Castle originates from the 10th century and is well-preserved. The Monferrato family built massive walls in the 15th century. It was damaged by Spanish army in the early 1700s. Built on five above-ground storeys, plus attic and tower for a total of about 4300 square metres of floor space and more than 5000 covered (the difference between the two measurements is given by the thickness of the ancient ...
Founded: 10th century AD |
Location:
San Giorgio Monferrato, Italy
Castellamonte Castle
The Castellamonte Castle is a medieval building situated on the hill overlooking the city. The earliest sources that document its presence dating back to 1066, but the structure had to be earlier. It became one of the most important fortified structures of Canavese under the descendants of Arduino, Marquis of Ivrea, then king of Italy: the wall surrounded the whole hill and was accessible by seven gates still visible. Th ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Castellamonte, Italy
Villar Dora Castle
The castle of Villar Dora is a medieval feudal residence, among the best preserved of the Susa valley. It was built in the 13th century to the rocky hill which has been occupied since Roman times. The castle was renovated in Gothic style in the 14th century by Provana family. In the early 20th century, Count Antonielli d"Oulx carried out restoration works that returned the original medieval aspect to the central body ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Villar Dora, Italy
Valperga Castle
According to legend, Valperga Castle was founded during the second half of the 10th century by Dadone, father of King Arduino. The hamlet"s fortresses, which date back to the 14th century - a period of major conflict between the Valperga family and the San Martino family, were renovated in the 16th century. But the structure of the fortress changed during the 17th century when the people, brought to their knees from ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Valperga, Italy
Favria Castle
Favria Castle dates back to the 12th century. It belonged for a long time to the Marquises of Montferrat, serving in the protection of their domains. In 1446, William VIII, Marquis of Montferrat took steps towatrds the consolidation of the castle, giving impetus to the development of the settlement of Favria. The property then belonged to the Solaro di Govone family, who transformed the castle into an elegant residence. ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Favria, Italy
Sorli Castle
Sorli Castle was built in the 12th century, maybe on the site of 6th century fort. Today it is ruined, the tower and some walls partially exists.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Borghetto di Borbera, Italy
Banchette Castle
Banchette Castle was built in the 12th century to the grounds of ancient Roman fort. The current appearance dates from the 19th century, when it was restored by Emilio Pinchia.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Banchette, Italy
Strambino Castle
Strambino Castle was documented first time in the 12th century and was probably owned by the bishop of Ivrea. The castle has been altered several times, some parts of original 11th century and 15th century Gothic structures remain. The main part is noble residence from the 17th century.
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Strambino, Italy
Cesnola Castle
Cesnola Castle was probably built in the 11th century, but there is no written documents of building time. It was partially demolished in the early 16th century and rebuilt later. Today it lies in ruins.
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Settimo Vittone, Italy
Pozzol Groppo Castle
Pozzol Groppo castle was built in the late 12th century on the site of a Roman watch tower. It was restored in the 16th century by the powerful Malaspina noble family, who owned the castle until 1889. The imposing building preserves inside a beautiful courtyard with a medieval well and sumptuous rooms with fireplaces, wooden ceilings and fresco decoration, keeping alive the prestige of an illustrious past. Today it is no ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Pozzol Groppo, Italy
Torre Ratti Castle
Torre Ratti Castle existed already around the year 1000, but it was first time documented in 1413. The current late Renaissance and Baroque style appearance dates from restorations made in the 16th-17th centuries. The tower was erected in 1629.
Founded: 16th century |
Location:
Borghetto di Borbera, Italy
Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings
Photo from Flickr, copyright Mr Phil Price
Historic Site of the week
Caerleon Roman Amphitheatre
Built around AD 90 to entertain the legionaries stationed at the fort of Caerleon (Isca), the impressive amphitheatre was the Roman equivalent of today’s multiplex cinema. Wooden benches provided seating for up to 6,000 spectators, who would gather to watch bloodthirsty displays featuring gladiatorial combat and exotic wild animals.
Long after the Romans left, the amphitheatre took on a new life in Arthurian legend. Geoffrey of Monmouth, the somewhat imaginative 12th-century scholar, wrote in his History of the Kings of Britain that Arthur was crowned in Caerleon and that the ruined amphitheatre was actually the remains of King Arthur’s Round Table.
Today it is the most complete Roman amphitheatre in Britain.