Castello Estense (Este Castle), also known as Castello di San Michele (Saint Michael’s Castle), is a moated medieval castle in Ferrara, located in the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY OF CASTELLO ESTENSE In May 1385, the people of Ferrara, hearing of another tax increase, revolted against it. The Marquis Niccolò II d’Este tried to calm them down, but when he realized the people were getting more and more angry, he handed over to them the high official held responsible for the taxes, Tommaso da Tortona, and the crowd tore him to pieces. After this incident, Niccolò II considered it essential to equip himself with a fortified structure for the defense of his court. The work was commissioned to the architect Bartolino da Novara, former architect of Castello Visconteo of Pavia and Castello di San Giorgio of Mantua. The first stone of the Este Castle was laid on September 29, 1385, the day of Saint Michael. Bartolino da Novara used a pre-existing tower (Torre dei Leoni), added three more towers – the Marchesana Tower to the southeast, the Tower of San Paolo to the southwest, and the Tower of Santa Caterina to the northwest, and then joined them Read more [...]
All Castles in Emilia-Romagna
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Castel Sismondo
Castel Sismondo, also known as Rocca Malatestiana, is a castle in Rimini, located in Piazza Malatesta, in the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY OF CASTEL SISMONDO Castel Sismondo was built at the behest of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, starting with 1437, in a period of great prosperity for the House of Malatesta. The castle was conceived both as a fortress and a palace of grandiose proportions, to represent the power of the lord over the city. Sigismondo was, in fact, the one who designed the castle, but was supported by various architects, such as Cristoforo Foschi, Matteo Nuti and Filippo Brunelleschi. The fortress was built on a pre-existing structure, a large fortified complex built by Sigismondo’s brother and predecessor, Galeotto Roberto. The construction began on May 20, 1437, and was completed about 15 years later, with some of the decorative works lasting until 1454. During the works, in order to create a large buffer zone around the moat, an entire complex of buildings was demolished, including the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Convent of Santa Caterina. The decline of the House of Malatesta at the end of the 15th century determined the beginning of Read more [...]