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Search for the town, the city, the area where you want to go and consult the contents of VisitItaly
Search for the town, the city, the area where you want to go and consult the contents of VisitItaly
VISITITALY WHAT TO SEE CASTLES, PALACES AND MANSIONS LAZIO

Lazio castles, palaces and mansions

The Lazio region is rich in castles, towers, and historic houses, a strong testimony of medieval architecture. A dense network of manors spreads over the whole territory, in the plains, on the gentle hill slopes and perched on rocky mountains, surrounded by vineyards, beech and chestnut woods. Built in strategic positions, they dominate the surrounding valleys, often with mighty crenellated walls and lively interior decorations made on frescoed walls to recall the opulence of the local noble families. Many can be visited, still others used as private homes, and still others only ruins bearing witness to a glorious past. Discover with Visititaly, the fortresses, the villas, the forts, the historic buildings, the noble residences and all the places linked to culture that characterize the Lazio region. If you have visited a castle and would like to share your experience with others, please report it here!

Montefiascone - Castles, palaces and mansions

Rocca dei Papi

The Papal fortress dates back to 1207 and is located at the top a hill in a strategic and dominant position and in the past was the residence of the popes. After a long period of neglect, it has been the subject of a total restoration, respecting the original form, and that allowed to change its use in an ideal place to host events, exhibitions and cultural events. Currently the castle is open to the public and houses the Museum of Architecture of Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane.

Collalto Sabino - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello di Collalto

The first traces of the history of the Castle of Collalto, in the Province of Rieti, belong to 1350. The castle passed between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries in the hands of many noble families, of which the Soderini, who subjected the structure to various renovations for defensive purposes. The current appearance preserves seventeenth-century — eighteenth-century stretches and today we can admire both the square central tower and the two towers at the corners.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is a big landscape garden containing buildings, museums and other attractions. Being Rome’s second largest public park, it was developed and built by Flaminio Ponzo and Scipone Borghese who used the park as a party villa as well as to house his art collection. Villa Borghese is not only a breath of fresh air but also gives its visitors a spectacular view of the museums, the bio park, a theatre, a winter ice skating track with skateboarders space to enjoy their visit.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Boncompagni

The Boncompagni Palace also known as Palazzo Margherita, was built between 1886 and 1890 by Gaetano Koch. It consists of three floors and the location and style make it unique. On the ground floor there are 12 windows while on the first and second floor there are 15 windows. In the garden of the palace there are also two buildings dating back to the nineteenth century that belonged to the Boncompagni family. From 1931 to today it is home to the Embassy of the United States of America.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello di Lunghezza

The Castle of Length is located in the homonymous town in the municipality of Rome. It dates back to the birth of the Roman Republic and was built on Paleolithic remains. Over the centuries it has undergone numerous transformations and has hosted characters such as Jacopone da Todi, Bonifacio VIII, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Caterina De' Medici, the Strozzi family, and Carlo of England. Its structure is classified as a national monument. It is currently in excellent condition, is home to the Imaginary Park and is open to the public.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Lateranense

The Lateran Palace is a building complex that includes the Papal Apartment, the government offices of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Apostolic Library, as well as more than 1. 000 rooms. Since the beginning of the 4th century, it has been the main residence of the popes, for about a thousand years. The Lateran fortified complex created a citadel around the Papal Palace, including the Cathedral and the Baptistery.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Torlonia

Palazzo Torlonia began to be built in 1500 by Andrea Bregno. The building was donated by the Cardinal to Henry VIII in 1505 and became the first seat of the British Embassy. The main façade has a Renaissance structure, divided into three orders and consists of two floors of seven windows each. The large eighteenth-century arch portal opens onto a harmonious courtyard with an elegant porch attributed to Raphael, adorned with statues and in the bottom by two large nineteenth-century fountains.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Sciarra

Villa Sciarra, part of the urban villas of Rome, is a construction built by Urbano II. Since 1549 the villa had several owners and in 1849, it became the property of Prince Maffeo II of Sciarra from whom it also took its current name. In 1896 the Sciarra sold the property to the Company of Credit and Land Construction Industry, which was later passed to an American passionate about gardens, George Wurts. The area of the villa is characterized by a variety of fountains depicting mythological characters and is available to all interested parties.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Villa Farnesina

Villa Farnesina is located in front of Palazzo Corsini, in via della Lungara. It was built from 1506 to 1510 for the banker Agostino Chigi. It is one of the most beautiful villas of the Italian Renaissance. The building has a simple design, which harmonizes with the garden. The most important fresco in the room is the work of Raphael “Galatea”. On the upper floor of the villa, there is a beautiful living room of the Perspectives. Today the villa is open to the public and very well preserved.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Falconieri

Palazzo Falconieri is a 16th-century palace located in Rome. In 1638 Orazio Falconieri commissioned Francesco Borromini to bring it from 8 to 11 spans. There are two large baroque herms with female busts and hawk heads, which are the work of Borromini. On the prospectus overlooking the river is interesting the loggia consisting of three arches dating back to 1646. Of great value are the great staircase and the stuccoes of the ceilings. Today there is the headquarters of the Academy of Hungary, which owns a specialized library with more than 20,000 volumes.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo di Giustizia

The Palace of Justice in Rome was built by the Perugino architect Guglielmo Calderini, in the years 1889 - 1911. It is one of the major works created after the proclamation of Rome capital. By the Romans it is called Il Palazzaccio. The building is inspired by the late Renaissance and Baroque architecture according to the Umbertine style. On the sides of the entrance are the statues of 6 jureconsults. The upper part of the rear facade is enriched with a bronze coat of arms of Casa Savoia. Inside, the Hall of the Court of Cassation is adorned with several frescoes.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Spada

Palazzo Spada is a building in which both the Galleria Spada and the Council of State are located. The palace was built in 1540 for the honor of Cardinal Girolamo Capodiferro. The peculiarity of the building is the fact that due to the precise mathematics and engineering used in the construction phase it creates the optical illusion of being longer than it actually is, characteristic typical of the Italian Baroque. Inside the rooms you can watch paintings, antique sculptures, antique furnishings and furniture.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Vidoni

Palazzo Vidoni Caffarelli is located in Rome and was built between 1515 and 1536 at the behest of Bernardino Caffarelli. It represents one of the oldest Renaissance palaces in the area. The façade had seven arches with the ground floor and a rusticated base with horizontal bands in dark tuff. The palace supports important sixteenth-century frescoes, depicting moments from the life of the emperor. Inside the building there are some Roman statues and a fountain from the classical period.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo della Cancelleria

The Palazzo della Cancelleria is located in Rome in Piazza della Cancelleria. The palace was built for Cardinal Riario and is an example of Renaissance architecture in Rome. In 1517 it became the seat of the Apostolic Chancellery. In the building there is a fresco that Giorgio Vasari made in just 100 days. In the 17th century, a small private theater was built by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni and, then, was transformed into the center of Rome's musical life.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Massimo

It is a neo-Renaissance style building and houses one of the most important collections of classical art in the world. On the ground floor there are beautiful Greek finds found in Rome. On the first floor there are famous masterpieces of the ancient statuary and magnificent sarcophagi, with a battle scene carved in high relief. On the second floor, there are frescoed walls and mosaics that present the home decoration of prestigious Roman residences.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Senatorio

Palazzo Senatorio is located in Rome, between the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo. The palace was built above the ruins of the ancient Tabularium. This building was the only one left from the Republican Age. Above the building stands the bell tower rebuilt by Martino Longhi the Elder. In a classroom in the building, frescoes were discovered, for a long time remained hidden. The rooms inside the building are also of great interest. The building is open today to the public.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Mattei di Giove

Palazzo Mattei di Jupiter was built by Carlo Maderno in 1598. The building was designed for the Marquis of Jupiter Asdrubale Mattei, married to Costanza Gonzaga. It is built on three floors, has facades of late sixteenth-century shapes. The two courtyards and the staircase of the palace are adorned with sculptures, reliefs and ancient vases. The rooms of the palace have painted vaults dating back to the early seventeenth century. The building also houses the State Disco, the Historical Institute for the Modern and Contemporary Age, the Library of Modern and Contemporary History.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Venezia

Palazzo Venezia was built between 1455 and 1467 in Rome. The building represents the Renaissance model of the architect Leon Battisti Alberti. In addition, in the building there are rich collections derived from the former Kircherian Museum and Castel Sant'Angelo. The artistic material is composed of works from the Middle Ages and Renaissance such as porcelain, silver, bronzes, sacred furnishings, paintings, ivories, weapons and crystals. The museum collects both Italian and foreign productions.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Salviati

The palace was built in the mid-sixteenth century by Giulio Romano for Filippo Adimari. In 1849 it became a barracks of French troops and in 1870 it became the property of the Italian State, becoming the first seat of the Military Court. Inside the palace there are important sixteenth-century frescoes that tell the stories of the apostles. In the library, instead you can find admirable frescoes by Annibale Brugnoli, with episodes of the wars held at the end of the nineteenth century.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Collegio Romano

The Roman College was built from 1582 to 1584 at the behest of Gregory XIII Boncompagni. It was also the scene of the debates between Galileo and Segneri. It was the seat of the Kircherian Museum, of which also today it supports part of the collection. To date, the eastern wing of the building welcomes the headquarters of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, instead, the second wing that overlooks the homonymous square houses the High School Ennio Quirino Classico Visconti.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo di Montecitorio

Palazzo Montecitorio is a building in Rome, where the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic is located. The building, both in the structure and in the decorations, adapts to the pre-existing urban planning. The facade of the building consists of a polygonal of five scores with the elements of freshly blown stone, from which leaves and broken twigs come out. At Palazzo Montecitorio there are more than a thousand paintings and sculptures dated between the 16th and 20th centuries. A large part of these works can be found in the Chamber of Deputies.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Colonna

Palazzo Colonna was built in the fourteenth century. The building has a Roman Baroque style construction. The facade on the square has a portal between two columns dominated by a window with a curved gable and two garlands that descend on the door. The facade of the building on Via Del Teatro di Marcello has seven windows with characteristics equal to the main ones. On the ground floor there is a beautiful portal that dates back to the fifteenth century. A plaque from 1970 recalls that “On 16 December 1870 the Municipality of Rome opened the first female elementary school here”.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi

Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi, built by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, is located in Rome, on the Quirinale hill. The art gallery includes more than 500 paintings, drawings, sculptures and other works of art by artists, such as Annibale Carracci, Pietro da Cortona, Nicolas Poussin, Botticelli, Lorenzo Lotto, Guido Reni and other artists of the Renaissance-Baroque period. The building is located in the place where the remains of the Baths of Constantine were found.

Rome - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello di Giulio II

The Castle of Giulio II is a building symbol of Renaissance military architecture. The perimeter system that characterizes the architectural structure connects the main tower to the other two towers. During the period of the pontificate of Giulio II, the strategic and military value of the structure was partly reduced by the addition of residential environments, in which traces of frescoes can still be found of the time attributable to Baldassarre Peruzzi.

Santa Marinella - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello di San Severa

The Castle of Santa Severa dates back to the 11th century, and is located by the sea. In the past, in front of this structure, the ancient Etruscan port of Pyrgi was located. During the thirties, the Castle became a summer home for numerous fascist hierarchs. In the mid-sixties, the Pious Institute of Santo Spirito, at the time owner of the Castle of Santa Severa, ordered its restructuring. The works were led by Riccardo Medici and were completed in 1970.

Civitavecchia - Castles, palaces and mansions

Forte Michelangelo

Fort Michelangelo was erected in 1535, by Giuliano Leno and Antonio da Sangallo, students of Bramante, who directed the works of the Fort until his death in 1514. The idea of a fortress was born at the time of Pope Giulio II della Rovere, who had decided to erect a fortress to defend the port of Civitavecchia and thus ensuring the tranquility of its citizens. The main tower, known as the Maschio, was entrusted to Michelangelo Buonarroti, from whose fort it also takes its name.

Fiumicino - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello di Torrimpietra

The Castle of Torrimpietra was built in medieval times and in 1254 it was among the possessions of the Normanni Alberteschi family. At the beginning of the 16th century the property passed to the Peretti family who also had a stately home built. After a magnificent period, the noble family sold the Castle to the Falconieri princes, who commissioned the painter Pier Leone Ghezzi to decorate the interior. After a period of decadence of Torre in Pietra and after the Falconeri became extinct, the Castle was restored by Senator Luigi Albertini in 1926.

Itri - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello Carafa

The castle was built in the 9th century, at the behest of the Duke of Gaeta. In the tenth century the structure was modified by the Duke's nephew, Marino I, who added a second tower. Over the centuries he had several owners, who modified and enlarged the building in turn. Currently, the castle can be very well visited, and in it there are exhibitions, markets and various ceremonies. It is said that the ghosts of the sentenced to death wander in the castle, so it's the ideal place for horror enthusiasts.

Ladispoli - Castles, palaces and mansions

Castello dei Monteroni

The Castle of Monteroni or Castellaccio was built around the fourteenth century along the route of the Via Aurelia and in its area known for the ancient Etruscan mounds. Its function, during the first century of construction, was as a tavern and post office for pilgrims who traveled the route mentioned above. The denomination of Castellaccio derives from the fact that after World War II the fortress was in a poor state of preservation.

Palestrina - Castles, palaces and mansions

Palazzo Barberini

Palazzo Barberini was built in the eleventh century, on the remains of the sanctuary of Fortuna Primigena in the center of Palestrina. It was built at the behest of the Colonna family and in 1630 the building was sold to Carlo Barberini who together with his son Taddeo carried out a reconstruction of the structure remained intact until the present day. Since 1956, after having been purchased by the State, the Palace was used as a National Archaeological Museum Prenestino.

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