Oramala Castle

Val di Nizza, Italy

Oramala Castle was built in the 11th century by the Malaspina ancestors and remained in family ownership, albeit with various interruptions, for many centuries. Around 1200, in its greatest splendor, it was a prestigious cultural center housing Provençal troubadours.

The castle was refortified in 1474 against the firearms. Malaspina family owned it until the 18th century, but after that it started to decay. The restoration began in 1985.

However, thanks to the restoration, today Oramala shines again. Its position, its  appearance of a fortified candy box, the many cultural events it hosts, make it a lovely destination in summer. Today it is managed by the association Spinofiorito that, between May and October, organizes guided tours and events focussing on the study and recovery of the medieval culture in the territories of the Malaspina.

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Address

SP155, Val di Nizza, Italy
See all sites in Val di Nizza

Details

Founded: c. 1029
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

More Information

oltrella.it

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Alberto Sorrentino (9 days ago)
Il più storico della valle Staffora, dove è iniziato il casato dei Malaspina. Aperto, non sempre, la domenica per visitare poche vestigia. Panorama fantastico dal torrione. Bellissime passeggiate nei boschi attorno. Per mangiare andare a Varzi
Giuseppe Giacalone (3 months ago)
Che peccato non sia fruibile, sarebbe di certo una bella risorsa ed una risposta per contribuire al nostro patrimonio culturale
Pasquale Binetti (3 months ago)
Non capisco perché un castello così ricco di storia deve restare chiuso ai visitatori!
Freddy Rovelli (4 months ago)
Bellissimo castello, purtroppo non visitabile, chiuso, ma comunque una bellissima roccaforte, consiglio una visita all'esterno, sopratutto per il paesaggio tutt'intorno, vale la pena farci un capatina!
giuseppe quattrocchi (9 months ago)
Un piccolo castello e una grande scoperta, visitato per caso in un giorno d'apertura un guida ci ha catapultato nelle dinamiche di storie, economie, amori, guerre del passato. Abbandonato per decenni è stato poi restaurato. Non conoscevo questo castello ma ha confermato la mia convinzione che in Italia esistono luoghi fantastici troppo spesso per nulla valorizzati. Se potete visitatelo ne vale la pena.
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Het Steen

Het Steen is a medieval fortress in the old city centre of Antwerp. Built after the Viking incursions in the early Middle Ages as the first stone fortress of Antwerp, Het Steen is Antwerp's oldest building and used to be its oldest urban centre.

Previously known as Antwerpen Burcht (fortress), Het Steen gained its current name in around 1520, after significant rebuilding under Charles V. The fortress made it possible to control the access to the Scheldt, the river on whose bank it stands. It was used as a prison between 1303 and 1827. The largest part of the fortress, including dozens of historic houses and the oldest church of the city, was demolished in the 19th century when the quays were straightened to stop the silting up of the Scheldt. The remaining building, heavily changed, contains a shipping museum, with some old canal barges displayed on the quay outside.

In 1890 Het Steen became the museum of archeology and in 1952 an annex was added to house the museum of Antwerp maritime history, which in 2011 moved to the nearby Museum Aan de Stroom. Here you’ll also find a war memorial to the Canadian soldiers in WWII.

There are some beautiful plaques on the back side of the Steen Castle at Antwerp. Canadian visitors will especially want to see the plaques thanking the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry for their part in the liberation of Antwerp, in 1944.

At the entrance to Het Steen is a bas-relief of Semini, above the archway, around 2nd century. Semini is the Scandinavian God of youth and fertility (with symbolic phallus). A historical plaque near Het Steen explains that women of the town appealed to Semini when they desired children; the god was reviled by later religious clergy. Inhabitants of Antwerp previously referred to themselves as 'children of Semini'.

At the entrance bridge to the castle is a statue of a giant and two humans. It depicts the giant Lange Wapper who used to terrorise the inhabitants of the city in medieval times.

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