Rocca of Umbertide

The Rocca of Umbertide is a 14th-century castle located in the center of the town of Umbertide, province of Perugia, region of Umbria, Italy. It is the town's symbol.

Rocca of Umbertide
Umbertide, Italy
Coordinates43°18′24.5″N 12°19′40.7″E
Site information
ConditionRestored
Site history
Built1374-1389

History

Construction of the castle began in 1374, with designs by Angeluccio di Ceccolo, and construction directed by Alberto Guidalotti, with completion in 1389.[1] It has a tower of nearly 32 meters in height with walls that are 2 meters thick at the base. Two corner towers are linked to a square central bulwark. Today, the castle has a single door towards the town, but at one time, it had an opening across the adjacent river.[2]

In 1394, Braccio Fortebraccio of Montone was held prisoner here. Released after the payment of a ransom, he then conquered the castle and used it as a personal residence until his death in 1424. In the following years the castle was under the rule of the State of the Church; in 1478 the structure, together with the surrounding territories, was devastated by the troops of Federico da Montefeltro.[3]

In 1521 Pope Leo X entrusted the custody of the castle to the town's higher authorities for seven years; such honor was then renewed for another ten years by Pope Clement VII. The fortress saw its importance grow significantly in the 16th century, when it became the seat of a papal military garrison.[3]

After the restoration of Papal authority in 1814, the castle was used a prison until 1923. It was then used as a residential building until 1974. It subsequently became property of the comune, and during the late 1980s underwent restoration to its historical identity as a castle. One exception was the creation of a new entrance. Starting in 1986, the castle became used for contemporary art exhibits. It now also displays a collection of donated works by Giovanni Ciangottini.[2]

References
  1. Daniele Amoni (1999). Castelli, fortezze e rocche dell'Umbria (in Italian). Quattroemme. ISBN 9788885962514. p. 289.
  2. La Rocca, Comune of Umbertide. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  3. Rocca di Umbertide, Umbria tourism. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
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