Ivrea Castle was built on behalf of Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, in 1358. Ivrea was built to signify the dominance of the House of Savoy over the region. The castle has four towers erected on a plan flank. It is located next to a cathedral and a bishop's palace. The castle is mentioned in the work of Giosuè Carducci.
The most significant changes were recorded at the end of the 18th century, when the castle was transformed into a prison, first destined to State prisoners and then also to common prisoners. With the prison function, which it maintained untile the first half of the 20th century, the structure was subject to a series of additions and adaptations that naturally divided the courtyard into two parts and defined the external spaces, closed by high perimeter walls.
The first studies of the structure, including the historical origins, date back to the endo of the 19th century, important documental sources for this were contributed by Giuseppe Giacosa and Alfredo d’Andrade.
In 1979, almost ten years after dismission, the restorations were completed that demolished the structures from the 19th and 20th century and rediscovered the antique structures in the courtyard and moat areas.
References:Linderhof is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed.
Ludwig II, who was crowned king in 1864, began his building activities in 1867-1868 by redesigning his rooms in the Munich Residenz and laying the foundation stone of Neuschwanstein Castle. In 1868 he was already making his first plans for Linderhof. However, neither the palace modelled on Versailles that was to be sited on the floor of the valley nor the large Byzantine palace envisaged by Ludwig II were ever built.
Instead, the new building developed around the forester's house belonging to his father Maximilian II, which was located in the open space in front of the present palace and was used by the king when crown prince on hunting expeditions with his father.