Castello di Alviano

The Castello di Alviano, also known as Doria Pamphili, is a Renaissance castle located in Alviano, Umbria, Italy. Built in the 15th century, it was initially owned by the Alviano family, who had it as a fief, until 1543. In 1654, Olimpia Maidalchini Pamphili, a powerful relative of Pope Innocenzo X, bought the castle for 265,000 scudi. The castle's plan is trapezoidal with four circular, bastioned towers. Bartolomeo d'Alviano significantly remodeled the castle in 1470, transforming it from a fortress into a stately residence.

Under Bartolomeo’s son, Bernardino, a cannon foundry was operated at the castle. The COMUNE di Alviano became the owner of the castle in the 19th century. Today, the castle is the seat of the municipality and houses two museums: the Museum of Countryside Civilization and the Museum of Captains of Ventura. Fragmentary frescoes with mythological themes and coats of arms, possibly by Pordenone, can be found in two rooms in the Renaissance-style courtyard.

In the noble chapel in the courtyard, there are frescoes depicting episodes from the life of St. Francis, attributed to Giuseppe Bastiani. A scene in the chapel's frescoes depicts the face of Olimpia Maidalchini Pamphili.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons