Castello Bourbon, Renaissance palace in Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Italy.
The palace displays Renaissance architectural features with two rows of large windows, a 16th-century stone portico supported by carved sandstone columns, and a medieval tower rising 40 meters high with its original bell system.
Originally constructed in 1250 by Guido I and extensively renovated between 1574 and 1614 under Marchese Bartolomeo I and his son Gian Battista I, the palace served as the seat of the autonomous Bourbon del Monte marquisate until 1806.
The palace now houses the Bourbon del Monte Museum, displaying archaeological artifacts from prehistoric times through Etruscan dominance and celebrating the family dynasty that ruled this territory between Umbria and Tuscany from the 13th to 19th centuries.
Guided tours require advance reservation at least three days prior, with reduced or free admission available for certain categories, and the facility offers accessibility features for visitors with disabilities.
The palace features underground prison cells connected to the courtroom through air ducts that allowed officials to eavesdrop on prisoners' conversations, and sharp spiral staircases designed as deadly traps for condemned individuals.
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