Spoleto (Italy) - Rocca Albornoziana
Slideshow | Lightbox (62) Tags: architecture europe history italy landmarks spoleto tourist-attraction Posted: March 14, 2011 by Serge
Rocca Albornoziana (Spoleto, Italy) - ground
(first) floor
plan.
La Rocca Albornoziana is a fortress located on top of the St. Elias hill overlooking the town of Spoleto. For tourists, the castle is one of the main attractions in the area. Historically, La Rocca is the main stronghold in the system of fortifications built by Pope Innocent VI, to strengthen and make more evident the military authority of the Church in the territories of central Italy. Indeed, the fortress played an important role in the return of the the seat of Popes to Rome after 68 years of Avignon Papacy (Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy).
Construction work on Rocca Albornoziana began in 1359. The whole effort was directed by cardinal Egidio Albornoz (see historic note on ); the construction was supervised by Gattapone of Gubbio, a local Italian architect (Matteo di Giovannello Gattaponi, 1300-1383). La Rocca was mainly completed in 1370, but throughout the history it was modified not once following the needs of the time and tastes of its lords.
The design of Rocca Albornoziana combines features that make it both, an impressive fortress and at the same time an elegant and comfortable residence used indeed by its many distinguished occupants. They include not only medieval governors of Spoleto (The building was a residential seat of the Castellan and the Governor of the Duchy) but many popes, including Boniface IX in 1392 and Nicholas V in 1449 during the plague in Rome. Lucrezia Borgia stayed in the castle on several occasions as well.
The structure has the rectangular perimeter with four corner towers. It is divided into two areas by means two median towers: the Ward of Arms (for the troops) and The Ward of Honor ( for the use of the city's governor). The inner perimeter of the Ward of Honor is surrounded by a two-floor portico designed, according to Vasari, by Bernardo Rossellino (an Italian sculptor and architect, 1409–1464).
After the 16th century the castle began to lose importance, so that from 1764 the city governors prefer to reside within the city walls. In 1817 the fortress was transformed first into a penal settlement and, after the unification of Italy, a high security prison. In 1982 the prison was transferred to another location and a long restoration process was begun. According to plans, a large part of the restored castle became in 2007 a home of the National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto. Currently, inside the fortress are also located the Cultural Heritage Diagnostic Laboratory and the European School of Preservation and Restoration (of antique books).
Today, La Rocca Albornoz is one of the landmarks of the city and its symbol. It is also a venue of different kinds of cultural activities: exhibitions, conferences and concerts. If you are in Spoleto, La Rocca is a must see place. Visit it and you will not regret.
Our excursion to Rocca Albornoziana starts on piazza della Vittoria (Spoleto, Italy). On this photo we are looking at a municipal building (occupied by police). Behind us is Ponte Garibaldi (Bridge Garibaldi) over the river of Tessino. |
We use Ponte Garibaldi to cross Tessino river and continue along its right bank. Tessino is a torrent river fed by rains, so usually it does not have any water. On this picture Rocca Albornoziana is already visible on the top of the hill (see background, center-left). |
To continue our journey, we cross Tessino again. Rocca Albornoziana is clearly visible on the center-left of the hill in the background. |
"Scale mobili" (escalators) will help us cover most of the way up the hill where Rocca Albornoziana is located. Escalators are free of charge and open every day from 7:30 AM to 8 PM (during weekends from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM). |
Once you are done with escalators, you continue to ascend the hill using an elevator. It is located deep inside the hill - a long corridor connects the escalator exit with the entrance to the elevator. The elevator is also free. |
It takes about 15 minutes to go up through escalators and the elevator. This is one of the towers of the Rocca as you see it after exiting the elevator. |
If you look back, you will see a beautiful panorama of Spoleto (Italy). The Tessino river divides the older part of the city (left) from more recent one. One of the landmarks in the historic center visible on the photo is Chiesa (church) di San Gregorio Maggiore (slightly left from the very center of the picture). |
Upon exiting the elevator, you have to go around the Rocca Albornoziana to enter the fortress itself. On the picture you the top of outer walls and castle moat (now completely dry). |
Moving around Rocca Albornoziana - we are still outside the castle but inside the outer walls that surround it. |
Take a minute or two to enjoy another panorama from the foot of Rocca Albornoziana. This time in south-west direction - you see Strada Statale SS3 (state road 3) also known as Via Flaminia. It exists from the times of ancient Rome connecting Rome and Ariminum (Rimini) over the Apennine Mountains. |
At this point we almost finished going around Rocca Albornoziana. In front of is an administrative building. On the left side is the area of the castle where its entrance is located. The road we used (you see it on the photo) at this point goes down. We will use it on our way back. The tower on the left is called Oven Tower. |
Before we go inside the castle, let's spend some time exploring Rocca' fortifications on its northern extremity. |
North-east view is not very entertaining - less human made structures and much more hills covered with woods. |
Rocca Albornoziana and its museum are open Tuesday - Sunday from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. On Monday museum is closed, but the Rocca is open from 11 AM to 7 PM. The full ticket (for the castle and museum) is €7.50 (for kids €3.50) - prices are 2010. It is possible to visit either the castle or museum at a lower price. |
That is how the entrance to the castle (and museum) looks today. |
This is one of the first rooms we see when enter Rocca Albornoziana. |
Entering the inner court of Rocca Albornoziana - The Ward of Honor. In the foreground is the well. |
Rocca Albornoz (Spoleto, Italy) - the view on Cortile d'onore (the Ward of Honor) from the second floor. The Ward of Honor was reserved for the use of the city's governor. |
Rocca Albornoziana, close-up on the well located in the Ward of Honor. According to Gothic inscription it is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. |
View on the portico of the second floor (Rocca Albornoz, Spoleto, Italy) |
The portico on the second floor can be reached by stairs in the Ward of Honor (Rocca Albornoz, Spoleto, Italy). |
View on stairs to the second floor (Rocca Albornoz, Spoleto, Italy). |
On all three walls of the second floor portico (Rocca Albornoz, Spoleto, Italy) you can see a number of coats of arms that witness the once presence at the Rocca of important families governing Spoleto. |
On this coat of arms the tiara (above the shield) represents the authority of the pope, while the keys represent the power to loose and bind on heaven and earth (Matt 16:19). Most likely, this coat of arms belongs to one of families very close to one of the Popes. |
It is not accidental that the tiara and keys are found in several coat of arms still preserved at Rocca Albornoziana - its history relates closely to the Papal military campaigns in medieval Italy. Tiara and keys remain the symbol of the papacy, and appear on the flag of the Vatican City and the coat of arms of the Holy See. |
Today the symbolic meaning of coat of arms is lost, but we still enjoy then as beautiful frescos (Rocca Albornoziana, Spoleto, Italy) |
This room already belongs to the National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto (Italy). The room served different functions at different times. Originally it was used as a deposit for weapons, gunpowder, horse harnesses, etc. It was called 'camera dell tinello'. Later, in 17th century, it was used as one on the governer's offices. In 19th century, when Rocca Albornoz was used as a prison, it became a dormitory. |
Please visit the second part of our photo gallery to explore the National Museum of the Duchy of Spoleto and Ponte delle Torri. |
Cardinal Albornoz (Historic Note)
Cardinal Albornoz (1310-1367) was born in Spain were he was known under the name of Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz (Italian: Egidio Albornoz). He quickly became a prominent figure as a Spanish cardinal and ecclesiastical leader. His Italian "affair" began in 1343 he had been sent to Pope Clement VI at Avignon (France - at that time the seat of Popes) to negotiate a grant of a tax on the revenues of the Church for the Crusade.
His military and diplomatic skills drew the attention the Pope, who made him a cardinal of San Clemente in 1350. The same year, Albornoz wisely left Spain after the death of the king Alfonso XI (when Albornoz' fortunes in Spain turned for the worse). In 1352 (after the election of Pope Innocent VI), Albornoz was appointed a grand penitentiary, and in 1353 Innocent VI sent him as a legate general vicar and the head of a small mercenary army to Italy. His mission was the restoration of the papal authority in Italy and Rome.
Albornoz showed to be a capable leader as well as skillful warrior in successfully implementing the will of the Roman Church. Despite his nickname "Angel of Peace", his military campaigns and policies in the Papal States resulted in blood spilled all over the Italian countryside .