Introd Castle, Introd, Italy - SpottingHistory.com

Introd castle stands on a promontory protected by the harsh gorges of the Savara and the Dora di Rhêmes (in fact the name Introd derives from the term Interaquas, or entre-eaux in French, which means “between the waters”) and probably dates back to the 12th century.

Like Graines castle, originally, it probably consisted of a square keep surrounded by a perimeter wall. Around 1260 Pierre Sarriod of Introd transformed the early castle which, following the modifications of the 15th century became five-sided and almost circular in shape, setting it apart from other castles in Val d’Aosta. These transformations mark the apogee of the Sarriod family, which included the Lords of Introd and La Tour (Saint-Pierre).

The castle was heavily damaged by two fires during the second half of the 19th century and was rebuilt at the start of the 1900s by Gonella, who engaged the architect Chevalley. Today it is owned by the Counts Caracciolo of Brienza and rented out for free to the Municipality of Introd. The ground floor and castle gardens are open to the public.

References:

Aosta Valley Tourism

User Reviews

Paulrobert Baisanu (2 years ago)
Un posto che se vi trovate in zona, andate a visitare.

Rosanna Clemeno (2 years ago)
Avrei voluto completare il tour dei castelli della Valle d'Aosta quest'estate. Ma grazie all'infinita disponibilità e gentilezza, della guida non mi è stato possibile. Trattare la gente come dei ladri, solo per una semplice informazione non è certo un bel biglietto da visita per la struttura. Pazienza.

Manuel Consolaro (3 years ago)
Non sono potuto entrare perché il castello è privato e le visite guidate sono possibili solo d'estate. Tuttavia con la neve appena caduta il castello aveva un fascino particolare. Si trova in una posizione molto panoramica da cui è possibile osservare il Monte Bianco e il Gran Paradiso. Per conoscerlo meglio è comunque possibile visitare il Castello Sarriod de la Tour, di proprietà della stessa famiglia che è invece sempre visitabile. Durante la guida a questo secondo castello sono molti i rimandi al Castello di Introd e alla sua storia.

Dante Frassi (3 years ago)
Posizione perfetta per in castello da notare che difficilmente viene indicato nelle guide. Giornata molto interessante anche per la posizione. Il tempo qui sembra fermarsi peccato per l'apertura del castello solo a orario impossibile per chi ha da fare km di strada.

Fabio Lanfranchi (4 years ago)
Big.

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The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

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