The Castle That Lost a Tower to a Church

The Castello della Lucertola stands in the historic village of Apricale in Liguria. Built likely in the X century by the Counts of Ventimiglia, it served as a defensive post before becoming a feudal residence. It was later owned by the noble Doria family and featured two square towers. Over time, one of these towers was transformed into the bell tower of the nearby church of the Purification of Mary Virgin.

In 1523, the fortress fell during a siege by Bishop Agostino Grimaldi, who partially destroyed the structure while attempting to capture Bartolomeo Doria. The castle was subsequently rebuilt with reduced military functions. In 1634, it passed to the Duchy of Savoy, and in 1652, it returned to Francesco Doria. In 1806, Stefano Cassini purchased the property for 3,400 Genoese lire and converted it into a private residence.

During the twentieth century, Fruttuoso Cassini, a surgeon, created two apartments within the castle, which were later decorated with frescoes by Leonida Martini, and added a hanging garden. Today, the building is owned by the Municipality of Apricale and serves as a museum of local history. The museum features seven thematic rooms, including a gallery dedicated to local theater and various historical artifacts.

The museum preserves documents such as the medieval statutes of 1267 and various archaeological materials. It also features illustrative panels dedicated to the life of Emma Cristina Bellomo Della Torre, the Countess of Apricale, who was involved in political intrigues across Europe, Russia, and Japan.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons