Kamerlengo Castle (; ) is a

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

and fortress in

Trogir Trogir () is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 10,107 (2021) and a total municipal population of 12,393 (2021). The historic part of the city is situated on a small island ...

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

History

The castle was built in the mid-15th century by Marin Radoj as part of an expansion of the Veriga Tower, built on the site in the late 14th century. It is used as a location for performances during the summer months. The word kamerlengo (Italian: '' camerlengo'') refers to the title of an administrative official (a chamberlain). In 1420 the

Venetian Republic The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

conquered

after a siege of almost 2 months. As the city's defenses were badly damaged during the siege and the people of Trogir were hostile to their new lords, the Venetians felt the need to erect a city-castle from which they could rule the newly conquered city. So, between 1420 and 1437 they built Kamerlengo Castle and the former corner tower of the city walls became a keep. Originally, the fortress was separated from the city by an outer crenelated wall and a wet moat. It housed the Venetian mercenaries and their kamerlengo (governor). At first, it was just known as the castle of Trogir, only since the mid-16th century did it became known as Kamerlengo Castle. In the mid-19th century, most of the city walls were demolished, and the castle moat was filled in. There were even plans to tear down the dilapidated castle, but luckily this was prevented. In the Kamerlengo courtyard, a smaller chapel was built dedicated to

St. Mark Mark the Evangelist ( Koinē Greek: Μᾶρκος, romanized: ''Mârkos''), also known as John Mark ( Koinē Greek: Ἰωάννης Μᾶρκος, romanized: ''Iōánnēs Mârkos;'' Aramaic'': ܝܘܚܢܢ, romanized: Yōḥannān'') or Saint Mark ...

, the patron saint of the Venetian Republic. Below the monumental relief of the lion was a smaller one with the coat of arms of the Tron family in a quadrilobe. Luka Tron distinguished himself as the sopracomite of the Venetian galley during the surrender of Korčula and the siege of Trogir, and was awarded the confidential function of city prince (1421-1424), the second in a row since the establishment of the new Venetian administration. The Gothic relief of the lion with the initials DC and the coat of arms of the Contarini family was made after the capture of Trogir in the 15th century and placed on the chapel in memory of Doge Domenico Contarini I (1043-1071), who is mentioned in the Venetian annals in the context of the conquest of

Zadar Zadar ( , ), historically known as Zara (from Venetian and Italian, ; see also other names), is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar ...

in the mid-12th century.

Gallery

File:Trogir Kamerlengo z moře 1.jpg, View from the sea waterfront File:Fortress Kamerlengo 15.jpg, Fort File:Fortress Kamerlengo 8.jpg, Interior details File:Fortress Kamerlengo 6.jpg, Trogir flag File:Fortress Kamerlengo 14.jpg, View of

from the Castle File:Fortress Kamerlengo 9.jpg, Interior details File:Fortress Kamerlengo 3.jpg, Facade File:Kamerlengo fortress - Trogir - 51385224809.jpg, Kamerlengo with Trogir’s waterfront File:Trogir Kamerlengo zevnitř dvůr.jpg, Inside File:Kamerlengo Castle in the Night.jpg , Castle at night File:Trogir Kamerlengo 2.jpg, Facade

References

Castles in Croatia History of Trogir Buildings and structures in Split-Dalmatia County Tourist attractions in Split-Dalmatia County Lowland castles {{Croatia-castle-stub

History

Gallery

See also

References