Piccolomini Castle, Renaissance castle in Ortucchio, Italy.
Piccolomini Castle is a Renaissance fortress in Ortucchio with a rectangular layout and four circular towers at each corner, positioned on the edge of the Fucino plain. The complex preserves three original corner towers and a central keep with surrounding battlements, displaying typical medieval construction methods.
Antonio Todeschini Piccolomini commissioned this Renaissance fortress in 1488 following the destruction of the previous stronghold by Napoleone Orsini. This reconstruction marked a new beginning for the fortification under one of the region's powerful families.
The entrance portal displays a commemorative plaque of the Piccolomini family, reflecting their role in shaping medieval fortifications in the region. This inscription connects visitors to the noble families who left their mark on local architecture.
Visitors can explore the preserved sections of the castle, including three original corner towers and the central keep with its surrounding battlements. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as the structures may have uneven surfaces and stairs.
The fortress originally stood on an island within Lake Fucino and was protected by a moat connected to the lake water. The drainage of the lake in the 1800s transformed the landscape completely, turning the fortification into a monument isolated in the flat plain.
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