Castello Piccolomini (Capestrano)

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Castello Piccolomini
Castello Piccolomini, surrounded by the old parts of the settlement

Castello Piccolomini, surrounded by the old parts of the settlement

Creation time : 15th century
Castle type : Hilltop castle
Conservation status: well preserved
Construction: Quarry stone
Place: Capestrano
Geographical location 42 ° 16 '4.8 "  N , 13 ° 46' 9.7"  E Coordinates: 42 ° 16 '4.8 "  N , 13 ° 46' 9.7"  E
Castello Piccolomini (Abruzzo)
Castello Piccolomini

The Castello Piccolomini is a castle in the Italian municipality of Capestrano in the province of L'Aquila in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park .

history

The castle of Capestrano was built on the remains of a medieval fortification, of which the tower with a prismatic floor plan has been preserved. The current buildings are the result of numerous renovations that are attributed to the families living there, such as the Acquavivas , the Piccolominis (from whom the castle's current name comes) and the Medicis , who owned the castle until the abolition of feudal rule.

The current buildings date from 1485 and the interior of the castle was completely restored in 1924, whereby large parts of the original structure were lost. Today the castle belongs to the municipality of Capestrano, which has housed the city administration and the offices of Pro Loco there.

A life-size copy of the Warrior of Capestrano has been placed in the courtyard .

description

The hilltop castle consists of two L-shaped buildings, the larger of which, facing south-west, carries the main facade onto the village square, while the smaller one closes off the inner courtyard to the north-west and on the north-east side contains the tower of the medieval predecessor building.

The main facade is flanked by two round towers. Above the entrance to the arms of the Piccolomini is attached and on the first floor there are five Renaissance - lancet windows in marble . The original entrance, however, was on the east side of the building and was protected by a moat ; From this entrance only the ravelin and the openings for the chains of the drawbridge are preserved, which is now replaced by a stone staircase.

In the middle of the inner courtyard is a marble fountain from the 15th century, flanked by two columns with capitals. A stone staircase gives access from the courtyard to the upper floors.

Gallery images

  • Forecourt

  • facade

  • Entrance portal

  • entrance

  • patio

  • Fountain

  • Western part of the courtyard

  • Eastern part of the courtyard

  • View of the entrance

  • Medieval tower

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Il Castello . Comune di Capestrano. Retrieved March 11, 2020.

swell

  • Marialuce Latini: Guide ai Castelli d'Abruzzo . Carsa Edizioni, Pescara 2000. ISBN 88-85854-87-7 . P. 76: Capestrano (AQ), il castello .

Web links

Commons : Castello di Capestrano  - Collection of images, videos and audio files