Andrea Beltrami (architect)

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Castello della Rancia
Castello della Rancia, view from the main tower
Castello della Rancia, 1970

Andrea Beltrami , also Andrea Beltrami da Como , (* around 1320 in Como ; † after 1357 ) was an Italian architect and fortress builder.

Construction and location

A still existing document from the year 1352 testified that from Como native architect and military architect Andrea Beltrami da Como and its Lombard craftsmen by the ruler of Camerino , Rodolfo II da Varano, with the construction of a fortress near the town of Tolentino commissioned has been. The construction, which was carried out in the classic medieval style, was carried out between 1353 and 1357 according to the plans and under the supervision of Andrea Beltrami da Como. The location for the new fortress was chosen because of its excellent strategic location in the Chienti Valley. The new fortress served to defend the valley and to control the old Roman road that ran parallel to the valley. The fortress is seven kilometers from the city of Tolentino and is located in the Marche region of central Italy . A fortified agricultural building had existed on the hill since the 12th century, owned by the Chiaravalle di Fiastra monastery and operated by the Cistercians .

Name and fortress

The name Castello della Rancia probably comes from a derivation of the French word "Grange", which means "barn" and which probably came from the time before the fortress was built, when the Cistercians still lived here. Access to the main entrance of the fortress is via a drawbridge and is protected by a defense tower . The keep is 25 meters high and consists of four floors, the first three of which are cross vaults . The basement was used as a dungeon and the large hall in the main building served as a residence.

literature

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personal data
SURNAME Beltrami, Andrea
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Beltrami da Como, Andrea
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian architect and fortress builder
DATE OF BIRTH around 1320
PLACE OF BIRTH Como
DATE OF DEATH after 1357