Montesegale Castle

Montesegale, Italy

The Castello di Montesegaleis a rural hilltop medieval fortress. It was originally built in the 14th century but over the next centuries was destroyed and rebuilt. An earlier 11th-century tower may have existed at the site.

Documents from 1164 indicate that Emperor Federico Barbarossa conceded a castle or fortress at Montesegale to Pavia. The property was owned by the Count Gambarana by 1311, who became the lord of Montesegale. In 1415, in retribution for a rebellion against Filippo Maria Visconti, his general Carmagnola captured and destroyed the castle. Count Guido Gambarana was captured, tortured, and executed. In 1451, Palatine Count Ottino Gambarana, the son of Guido, obtained from Duke Francesco Sforza restoration of his feudal inheritance. The position of the counts of Montesegale was confirmed by Emperor Charles V in 1525. The property passed on the Giussani family in 19th century, and then to the Jannuzzelli family.

The castle has outer walls and an inner walled keep. The interior walls were restored in 1900 by Agostino Gambarotta. The portal to the inner courtyard has a Latin epigraph that reads Fiat pax in virtute tua et habondantia in turribus tuis ('May there be peace in your strength and prosperity within your towers'). The castle portico has heraldic shields of the Gambarana family.

In 1975, the castle became the site of the local museum of contemporary art.

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Address

Piazza del Municipio 1, Montesegale, Italy
See all sites in Montesegale

Details

Founded: 14th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Elisabetta Balduzzi (12 months ago)
Un'eccellenza dell'Oltrepò Pavese. Da vedere!
channel max (12 months ago)
Grande castello, scenografico con lo sfondo delle colline dell'oltrepo' pavese. Le sue origini risalgono probabilmente al Milleduecento. Divenne proprietà dei conti Palatini di Lomello, i nobili Gambarana, che lo hanno posseduto dal 1300. Ospita in tre delle sue sale un museo di arte contemporanea, mentre il resto non si può visitare poiché è abitato dai proprietari.
Domenico Cottone (14 months ago)
Il castello è vellissimo, peccato che non si possa visitare l"interno
Jacopo Bellarosa (15 months ago)
Spettacolare scenario. Castello incastonato in un panorama mozzafiato sulle colline dell'Oltrepo. Il castello non è visitabile se non in occasione di eventi in quanto è un'abitazione privata.
grazia luigina morea (15 months ago)
Piccolo borgo con castello che incornicia una festa incantevole
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