Castello Orsini-Odescalchi, Military castle museum in Bracciano, Italy
Castello Orsini-Odescalchi is a stone fortress above Lake Bracciano with pentagonal walls, three circular corner towers, and two rectangular towers. The structure contains multiple rooms with historical objects and operates as a museum today.
Construction began in 1470 under Napoleon Orsini with architects Francesco di Giorgio Martini and Giovannino de' Dolci, finishing by 1485. The fortress later passed to the Odescalchi family and remained an important noble residence for centuries.
The rooms inside feature Renaissance frescoes and furniture that show how the nobility lived over time. Visitors can see old weapons and decorative details that reveal the craftsmanship of earlier centuries.
The museum opens daily except Mondays and offers guided tours in several languages. Visitors should plan ahead, especially if they want a tour in their preferred language.
A pope sought shelter here from a plague in Rome and declared it superior to his own residence. This shows how important and secure the location was at that time.
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