Piccolomini Castle, Medieval castle in Capestrano, Italy.
Piccolomini Castle is a medieval fortress in Capestrano with two L-shaped buildings and circular towers at the corners. Its main entrance faces the central town square and now houses municipal offices and a military museum dedicated to the World Wars.
The fortress was completed in 1485 and replaced an earlier fortification on the site. It was then modified by several noble families including Acquaviva, Piccolomini, and Medici who shaped its appearance and layout.
The interior courtyard displays a Renaissance well from the 1400s flanked by two columns with decorated capitals and ancient monoliths with carved surfaces. These elements show the craftsmanship from different periods layered together in this space.
The castle is free to enter during daytime hours and can be visited without admission costs. It is advisable to plan your visit during regular business hours since the building serves as a municipal office and the museum area may have limited opening times.
The original medieval tower of the castle stands at an irregular angle to the rest of the buildings and clearly shows how the structure evolved over time. This anomaly is a fascinating trace of how the complex was expanded and modified piecemeal across centuries.
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