Udine Castle, Renaissance castle on artificial hill in Udine, Italy.
Description
Udine Castle is a fortress built on an artificial mound with Renaissance features, featuring multiple towers and thick stone walls that rise above the city. The complex houses exhibition spaces, an art library containing tens of thousands of books, and a substantial photography collection spread throughout its rooms.
History
After a major earthquake in 1511 destroyed much of the site, reconstruction began in 1517 with Renaissance design principles that transformed it into a palace. This redesigned fortress then served as an important seat of power and protection for the city for centuries afterward.
Culture
The castle houses a museum that displays works by local and Italian artists spanning several centuries, showing how artistic tastes and techniques evolved over time. Visitors can walk through rooms where paintings share walls with historical objects that tell the story of the region.
Practical
It is best to visit early in the day and allow time to explore the different areas, as the complex is large and contains much to see in its various rooms. Planning ahead about which collections interest you is useful, since access to specialized sections may require advance notice.
Did you know?
The artificial mound beneath the castle dates back to the Bronze Age and ranks among the largest prehistoric mounds found in Europe. This archaeological layer below the building offers a remarkable window into the very ancient history of the location.
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Udine Cathedral
288 m
Loggia del Lionello
160 m
Patriarchal Palace
352 m
Palazzo Antonini
243 m
Basilica Santuario della Beata Vergine delle Grazie
379 m
Church of Saint John in Udine
294 m
Santa Maria di Castello
79 m
Oratorio della Purità
330 m
Museo Diocesano e Gallerie del Tiepolo
363 m
Bollani Arch
107 m
Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
262 m
Civic Museums and Gallery of History and Art
46 m
Biblioteca civica Vincenzo Joppi
88 m
Sant'Antonio Abate
334 m
Museum of Modern and Contemporary House Cavazzini
268 m
Museo del Duomo-Cattedrale di Udine
246 m
Palazzo di Brazzà
243 m
Palazzo Tinghi
280 m
Galleria Tina Modotti
239 m
Baptistery
261 m
Archiepiscopal Palace
320 m
Corte di Palazzo Morpurgo
269 m
Cedro dell'Himalaya
74 m
Cedro dell'Himalaya
82 m
Giardini del Castello di Udine - Cedro dell'Himalaya
88 m
Fontana di Piazza Giacomo Matteotti
236 m
Zamenhof plaque in Udine
71 m
Torre dell'Orologio
119 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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