Castello Orsini-Odescalchi is a castle in

Bracciano, Lazio Bracciano is a small town in the Italian region of Lazio, northwest of Rome. The town is famous for its volcanic lake (Lake Bracciano, Lago di Bracciano or "Sabatino", the eighth largest lake in Italy) and for a particularly well-preserved medie ...

, Italy. It is located on the southern shore of

Lake Bracciano Lake Bracciano () is a lake of volcanic origin in the Italian region of Lazio, northwest of Rome. It is the second largest lake in the region (second only to Lake Bolsena) and one of the major lakes of Italy. It has a circular perimeter of appr ...

. It was built in the 15th century, and combines the functions of a military defence structure and a civilian residence of the feudal lords of the period, the

Orsini Orsini is a surname of Italian origin, originally derived from Latin ''ursinus'' ("bearlike") and originating as an epithet or sobriquet describing the name-bearer's purported strength. Notable people with the surname include the following: * Aaro ...

and

Borgia The House of Borgia ( ; ; Spanish and ; ) was a Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town of Borja, then in the Cro ...

, both papal families. As one of the largest and best-maintained castles in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, it also houses a museum; as a centre of cultural events, the Castello has hosted several high-profile weddings such as those of

Tom Cruise Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and film producer. Regarded as a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood icon, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Tom Cruise, various accolades, includ ...

Katie Holmes Kate Noelle Holmes (born December 18, 1978) is an American actress. She first achieved fame as Joey Potter on the television series ''Dawson's Creek'' (1998–2003). Holmes made her film debut with a supporting role in Ang Lee's '' The Ice Sto ...

Eros Ramazzotti Eros Walter Luciano Ramazzotti (; born 28 October 1963) is an Italian Pop music, pop singer and songwriter. He is popular in Italy and most European countries, and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, as he has released most of his albums in bo ...

Michelle Hunziker Michelle Yvonne Hunziker (, ; born 24 January 1977) is a Swiss and Italian television presenter and former model. She hosted the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland alongside Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer. Early ...

, and

Petra Ecclestone Petra Ecclestone (born 17 December 1988) is a British heiress, model, fashion designer and socialite. Early life Ecclestone was born in London, the younger daughter of former Armani model Slavica Radić and English Formula One billionaire Ber ...

/James Stunt.

Geography

The well-preserved medieval castle Castello Orsini-Odescalchi is located in the city of Bracciano, 30 km away from

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. It is located near the western shore of the volcanic lake (

Lago di Bracciano Lake Bracciano () is a lake of volcanic origin in the Italian region of Lazio, northwest of Rome. It is the second largest lake in the region (second only to Lake Bolsena) and one of the major lakes of Italy. It has a circular perimeter of appr ...

or "Sabatino", the eighth largest lake in Italy). The railway line FR3 connects it with Rome (stations of

Ostiense Ostiense is the 10th of Rome, identified by the initials Q. X. The toponym comes from the original name of the Porta San Paolo, a gate in the city walls of Rome, was , because it was located at the beginning of Via Ostiensis, Via Ostiense. It ...

and Valle Aurelia) in about 55 minutes. Close to it lie the two medieval towns of

Anguillara Sabazia Anguillara Sabazia is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy, around northwest of Rome. It nestles on a small cape on the coast of Lake Bracciano; its medieval center and its beach make it a popular destinatio ...

and

Trevignano Romano Trevignano Romano is a small town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, central Italy. With a population of about 5,000, it is located on the volcanic Lake Bracciano. It is about away from Rome. History The presence of people ...

History

Early history

The castle's earliest history is inferred to be linked to one of the numerous towers built in the tenth century as a defence against the

Saracen attacks upright 1.5, Late 15th-century German woodcut depicting Saracens ''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Roma ...

, as implied by the ancient name of ''Castrum Brachiani''. In the eleventh century the neighbouring territory was acquired by the

Prefetti di Vico The Prefetti di Vico nel Lazio, Vico was the name of an Italian nobility, Italian noble family, of Germans, German origin, who established themselves in history of Rome, Rome from the 10th century. History They obtained the title of ''praefec ...

family, who turned the tower into a castle.

Ferdinand Gregorovius Ferdinand Gregorovius (; 19 January 1821 – 1 May 1891) was a German historian who specialized in the medieval history of Rome. Biography Gregorovius was the son of Neidenburg district justice council Ferdinand Timotheus Gregorovius and his wi ...

dated the possession of Bracciano by the

to 1234. From 1375, it was a

Papal The pope is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of sta ...

possession. In 1419, the

Colonna Colonna is an Italian word for column. The name Colonna may refer to: People * Colonna family, a noble family from Rome * Colonna (surname), an Italian surname Places ;Italy * Colonna, Lazio, a ''comune'' in the Province of Rome * Colonna, Cit ...

Pope Martin V Pope Martin V (; ; January/February 1369 – 20 February 1431), born Oddone Colonna, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 November 1417 to his death in February 1431. His election effectively ended the We ...

confirmed the fiefdom of Bracciano in the Orsini family branch of

Tagliacozzo Tagliacozzo (Neapolitan language, Marsicano: ') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, central Italy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). History Tagliacozzo lies in an ar ...

. Under this powerful family, Bracciano developed into a flourishing town, famous in the whole of Italy for its castle, which was enlarged, starting from 1470, by Napoleone Orsini and his son Virginio. In 1481 it was host to

Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV (or Xystus IV, ; born Francesco della Rovere; (21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 until his death in 1484. His accomplishments as pope included ...

, who had fled from the plague in Rome; the ''Sala Papalina'' in one of the corner towers commemorates the event. Four years later, however, the city and the castle were ravaged by Papal troops under

Prospero Colonna Prospero Colonna (1452–1523), sometimes referred to as Prosper Colonna, was an Italian condottiero. He was active during the Italian wars and served France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and various Italian states. His military career spanned ...

, and subsequently, a new line of walls was built. The construction of the Orsini-Odescalchi Castle was started by Napoleon Orsini of the Orsini family in 1470. It was completed by his son Virginio Gentil, in 1485.

Francesco di Giorgio Martini Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439–1501) was an Italian architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and writer. As a painter, he belonged to the Sienese School. He was considered a visionary architectural theorist—in Nikolaus Pevsner's terms ...

was the architect. Over the centuries of its existence, the castle has been the venue of many a conflict between

and Borgia noble families. In 1494,

Charles VIII of France Charles VIII, called the Affable (; 30 June 1470 – 7 April 1498), was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of 13. His elder sister Anne acted as regent jointly with her husband Peter II, Du ...

and his troops marching against Rome stopped at Bracciano. This act led to the ex-communication of the Orsini. In 1496, the castle which was under the Orsini family who were politically well connected and prosperous, attracted the ire of Pope Alexander VI whose son

Giovanni di Candia Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...

led a papal army and tried to capture it. However, the Orsinis successfully resisted the attack.

Cesare Borgia Cesare Borgia (13 September 1475 – 12 March 1507) was a Cardinal (Catholic Church)#Cardinal_deacons, cardinal deacon and later an Italians, Italian ''condottieri, condottiero''. He was the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI of the Aragonese ...

, another of Alexander's natural sons, was unsuccessful in his attempt to take the Orsini stronghold a few years later. During this time the castle underwent modifications with many interior decorations created in the form of paintings and frescoes by

Antoniazzo Romano Antonio di Benedetto Aquilo degli Aquili (c. 1430 – c. 1510), known as Antoniazzo Romano, was an Italian Early Renaissance painter, the leading figure of the Roman school during the latter part of the 15th century. He "made a speciality of ...

, a Roman painter and sculptor of the 15th century.

, born

Francesco della Rovere Pope Sixtus IV (or Xystus IV, ; born Francesco della Rovere; (21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 until his death in 1484. His accomplishments as pope included ...

, had shifted from

to this castle during the plague epidemic. At this time, the rooms where the Pope stayed were decorated with frescoes by the

Taddeo Zuccari Taddeo Zuccaro (or Zuccari) (1 September 15292 September 1566) was an Italian painter, one of the most popular members of the Roman mannerist school. Biography Zuccaro was born in Sant'Angelo in Vado, near Urbino, the son of Ottaviano Zuccaro, ...

and

Federico Zuccari Federico Zuccaro, also known as Federico Zuccari and Federigo Zucchero ( July/August 1609), was an Italian painter, draughtsman, architect and writer. He worked in various cities in Italy, as well as in other countries such as Spain, France, t ...

brothers.

16th century and later

The sixteenth century was a period of splendour for Bracciano and the castle. In 1558, the notorious

Paolo Giordano I Orsini Paolo Giordano Orsini (1541 – 13 November 1585) was an Italian nobleman, and the first duke of Bracciano from 1560. He was a member of the Roman family of the Orsini. Biography The son of Girolamo Orsini and Francesca Sforza, he was grandson, ...

, marrying Isabella de' Medici, daughter of

Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo I de' Medici (12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574) was the second and last duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, when he became the first grand duke of Tuscany, a title he held until his death. Cosimo I succeeded his cousin to the duchy. ...

, received the title of duke of Bracciano. However, the lavish life of the greedy Orsini family eventually affected the economic conditions of the city. The last great ruler was probably Paolo Giordano II, a patron of arts and literature which made Bracciano a centre of culture in Italy. The decline culminated in 1696 when the castle was sold to Livio Odescalchi, nephew of

Pope Innocent XI Pope Innocent XI (; ; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 until his death on 12 August 1689. Political and religious tensions with ...

; the

Odescalchi The House of Erba-Odescalchi () and the House of Odescalchi are branches of an Italian noble family formed by the union of the Erba and Odescalchi families. The Odescalchi family was, since the election of Benedetto Odescalchi as Pope Innocent ...

family still retain the castle. Emperor Leopold I, as recognition for services rendered in the war against the Turks, gave Livy, nephew of the Pope, the honorific of the Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Subsequent to the French occupation, the castle was looted of its valuable furniture. The castle and the estate were under Duke Marino Torlonia of the Torlonia family until 1848 when it was sold to Prince Livio Odescalchi III.

Architecture

The Castello Orsini-Odescalchi is one of the most noteworthy examples of Renaissance military architecture in Italy and is the main monument in Bracciano. The castle underwent many renovations since its inception. In the castle, richly frescoed

frieze In classical architecture, the frieze is the wide central section of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic order, Ionic or Corinthian order, Corinthian orders, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Patera (architecture), Paterae are also ...

s and ceilings were created. Richly coloured tapestries were made when the lords of Bracciano were in residence. The important late 15th-century frieze showing the labours of Hercales is still visible.

Museum

The historical museum within the castle premises has valuable artwork from the Middle Ages of over six centuries rule of Popes and Kings, consisting of ancient weapons, furniture and paintings, books and manuscripts, frescoes and decorations. It was opened in 1952 by Prince Livio Odescalchi IV.

Filming location

A number of films, TV series, and TV programs have been set in the castle: ''

Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...

'', '' Megiddo: The Omega Code 2'', ''

More Than a Miracle ''More Than a Miracle'' () is a 1967 film also titled ''Cinderella Italian Style'' and ''Happily Ever After''. It stars Sophia Loren, Omar Sharif and Dolores del Río. The movie has a fairy tale narrative. Filmed in the countryside outside Naple ...

'', '' On My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...'', '' Incantato'', '' Imperial Venus'', '' The Agony and the Ecstasy'', ''

The Wedding Party The Wedding Party may refer to: *The Wedding Party (Fawlty Towers), "The Wedding Party" (''Fawlty Towers''), the third episode in the first season of the TV series ''Fawlty Towers'', aired in 1975 *The Wedding Party (1969 film), ''The Wedding Party' ...

'', ''

Luisa Sanfelice Luisa or Luigia Sanfelice (1764–1800) was an Italian aristocrat who was executed by Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies Ferdinand I (Italian language, Italian: ''Ferdinando I''; 12 January 1751 – 4 January 1825) was Kingdom of the Two Sicilie ...

'', ''

Coco Chanel Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel ( , ; 19 August 1883 – 10 January 1971) was a French fashion designer and Businessperson, businesswoman. The founder and namesake of the Chanel brand, she was credited in the post-World War I era with populari ...

'', '' Medici: Masters of Florence'', ''

Castle of the Living Dead ''Castle of the Living Dead'' (, ) is a 1964 horror film directed by Warren Kiefer. It was released in English under the title ''Crypt of Horror''. It was Kiefer's first film as a director. Since its release, a number of contradictory producti ...

'' (1964),

Kath & Kimderella ''Kath & Kimderella'' is a 2012 Australian film. It is a spin-off of the television series ''Kath & Kim'', created by Gina Riley and Jane Turner. It was written by and stars Riley, Turner and Magda Szubanski. The film was released theatrically ...

, and ''

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure ''Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure'' is a 1989 American science fiction comedy film directed by Stephen Herek and written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. The first installment of the ''Bill & Ted'' franchise, it stars Keanu Reeves, Alex Win ...

''.

Events

The castle has hosted a number of events, especially weddings of wealthy actors and singers.

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

actors

and

were married at the castle. Lake Bracciano from Castello Orsini-Odescalchi

References

External links

Official siteThe Castle of Bracciano
{{Authority control Castles in Lazio Buildings and structures in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital Buildings and structures completed in 1485 Bracciano