Castle Rubello
www.castelrubello.it/cr_cas.php: There are no certain dates related to its foundation, due to its name changing throughout the time and to the lack of archive documents, before 1200; however, judging by the state of the walls as well as by its architectural elements, it can be approximately estimated that the castle dates back to the 12th century. In the "Piviere di San Fortunato" (an old version of the current land register), Carpenter (pg 6 and on) individuated, with absolute certainty, the original chore of "Villa Podii", which is nowadays a tiny, enclosed village, together with "Villa Porrani" and "Villa Canale". The same structure can also be found under the name of Castel Ribello (as Ceccarelli called it, pg. 18) as well as in the 1297 parish land register, with reference to the tithe payments (Sella, pgs 801-916).
Later on, the Castle became a possession of the Monaldeschi family, who took refuge there in 1345, before gaining the entrance to the city of Orvieto, of which they previously were the Lords (Fumi, 1884, pg. 501). The Castle remained a shelter for exiles until 1420, when the Pope Martino V allowed special privileges to the inhabitants of Castel Rubello and Porano, including the exemption from paying the " heads and acres tax, as a reward for the damages suffered under the war" (Fumi, 1884, pg. 677).
The Monaldeschi family re-gained possession of Orvieto in 1437, thanks to Gentile della Sala (Gentile Monaldeschi della Vipera) who, in agreement with Pietro Ramponi, the Civical Rector of the Patrimony, entered in in Orvieto with Ugolino da Montemarte, Ranuccio da Castel di Piero as well as other "Mercorini", slaughtering the members of the opposing faction, the "Muffati". As a result of this battle, over 60 people died and numerous houses were burnt.
Many "Muffati" managed to survive by taking shelter in Castel Rubello, whose constable had been Francesco da Bologna, since 1422, a mercenary captain belonging to the "Muffati" faction, hence at the service of the Church. For record purposes, Francesco da Bologna negotiated the Pope's betrayal with Gentile Monaldeschi della Vipera, who was, at the time, one of Francesco Sforza's emissaries (b. 1400, d. 1465, a very powerful and popular troop leader and an implacable enemy of the Papacy; amongst his various roles, he also became the Duke of Milan). In 1439, della Vipera reached Castel Rubello, with 400 foot soldiers, unaware of Francesco da Bologna's imminent betrayal; he was captured and imprisoned; 36 of his soldiers were killed in the battle. Once freed in return of his treachery, della Vipera offered his services to the Papacy, but, as a traitor, he plotted in favour of the Ghibellini, who were hostile to the Pope. In February of the following year, his plot was discovered and he first was locked up in the Assisi quarterdeck, with Francesco da Carnaiola and, subsequently, incarcerated in Perugia. He was freed with Carnaiola in June, thanks to his brother's offer of Orvieto, including Castel Rubello, to the State of the Church, in return of 2000 florins worth of compensation (www.condottieridiventura.com).
Towards the end of 1400, the castle was hard-fought by various noble families, in particular the Della Rovere and the Valenti (Tommaso di Silvestro, pgs 106 and on). In 1497, Giovanni Savelli, Lord of Rignano, Flaminio and Benano, exploited Castel Rubello as a strategical base to attack the near Castel Giorgio, home of Giorgio della Rovere, who was the Bishop of Orvieto's nephew. Assaulted by 400 foot soldiers, Castel Giorgio was conquered, destroyed and the lord of the castle was chained and dragged to Castel Rubello. Brandolino Valenti, acting on behalf of the Bishop, easily obtained the release of the prisoner, as well as the handing over of Castel Rubello, in return of a consistent ransom. The Valenti family resided in Castel Rubello from 1519 to the 18th century, after having married into the Avveduti, Lords of Porano, who had dwelled in the castle at the beginning of the 15th century (Fumi, 1888).
The Valenti family restructured the castle, by turning it into a villa. Giacomo Valenti, who was amongst the judges of the great "couple joust" of the Orvieto carnival, in 1542 (Satolli, 1986, pg 157), repaired a portion of the palace, also by assigning the making of some remarkable frescos to the popular Umbrian painter Cesare Nebbia (b. 1535, d. 1614). The culminating point was the construction of a monumental fireplace, in 1541.
His son Federico, together with his wife Lucrezia Ottieri, concluded the restoration, as from 1587, by renovating another wing of the building, which he used as his own abode, and having it decorated with frescos, which have recently been ascribed to Lombardelli (Satolli, 1987, pgs 66-68).
In the 18th century, the castle was owned first by the Salvatori family, then by the Marini, whose last heiress, Emma, married in 1892 the Marques Nicola Serafini Trinci, whose direct successors are still the proprietors of the Castle.
Unfortunately, in 1944, the allied troupes shelled two of the smallest towers, perhaps as a way to discourage attempts of sharp-shooting. Which, since then, were not rebuilt anymore.
Castle Rubello
www.castelrubello.it/cr_cas.php: There are no certain dates related to its foundation, due to its name changing throughout the time and to the lack of archive documents, before 1200; however, judging by the state of the walls as well as by its architectural elements, it can be approximately estimated that the castle dates back to the 12th century. In the "Piviere di San Fortunato" (an old version of the current land register), Carpenter (pg 6 and on) individuated, with absolute certainty, the original chore of "Villa Podii", which is nowadays a tiny, enclosed village, together with "Villa Porrani" and "Villa Canale". The same structure can also be found under the name of Castel Ribello (as Ceccarelli called it, pg. 18) as well as in the 1297 parish land register, with reference to the tithe payments (Sella, pgs 801-916).
Later on, the Castle became a possession of the Monaldeschi family, who took refuge there in 1345, before gaining the entrance to the city of Orvieto, of which they previously were the Lords (Fumi, 1884, pg. 501). The Castle remained a shelter for exiles until 1420, when the Pope Martino V allowed special privileges to the inhabitants of Castel Rubello and Porano, including the exemption from paying the " heads and acres tax, as a reward for the damages suffered under the war" (Fumi, 1884, pg. 677).
The Monaldeschi family re-gained possession of Orvieto in 1437, thanks to Gentile della Sala (Gentile Monaldeschi della Vipera) who, in agreement with Pietro Ramponi, the Civical Rector of the Patrimony, entered in in Orvieto with Ugolino da Montemarte, Ranuccio da Castel di Piero as well as other "Mercorini", slaughtering the members of the opposing faction, the "Muffati". As a result of this battle, over 60 people died and numerous houses were burnt.
Many "Muffati" managed to survive by taking shelter in Castel Rubello, whose constable had been Francesco da Bologna, since 1422, a mercenary captain belonging to the "Muffati" faction, hence at the service of the Church. For record purposes, Francesco da Bologna negotiated the Pope's betrayal with Gentile Monaldeschi della Vipera, who was, at the time, one of Francesco Sforza's emissaries (b. 1400, d. 1465, a very powerful and popular troop leader and an implacable enemy of the Papacy; amongst his various roles, he also became the Duke of Milan). In 1439, della Vipera reached Castel Rubello, with 400 foot soldiers, unaware of Francesco da Bologna's imminent betrayal; he was captured and imprisoned; 36 of his soldiers were killed in the battle. Once freed in return of his treachery, della Vipera offered his services to the Papacy, but, as a traitor, he plotted in favour of the Ghibellini, who were hostile to the Pope. In February of the following year, his plot was discovered and he first was locked up in the Assisi quarterdeck, with Francesco da Carnaiola and, subsequently, incarcerated in Perugia. He was freed with Carnaiola in June, thanks to his brother's offer of Orvieto, including Castel Rubello, to the State of the Church, in return of 2000 florins worth of compensation (www.condottieridiventura.com).
Towards the end of 1400, the castle was hard-fought by various noble families, in particular the Della Rovere and the Valenti (Tommaso di Silvestro, pgs 106 and on). In 1497, Giovanni Savelli, Lord of Rignano, Flaminio and Benano, exploited Castel Rubello as a strategical base to attack the near Castel Giorgio, home of Giorgio della Rovere, who was the Bishop of Orvieto's nephew. Assaulted by 400 foot soldiers, Castel Giorgio was conquered, destroyed and the lord of the castle was chained and dragged to Castel Rubello. Brandolino Valenti, acting on behalf of the Bishop, easily obtained the release of the prisoner, as well as the handing over of Castel Rubello, in return of a consistent ransom. The Valenti family resided in Castel Rubello from 1519 to the 18th century, after having married into the Avveduti, Lords of Porano, who had dwelled in the castle at the beginning of the 15th century (Fumi, 1888).
The Valenti family restructured the castle, by turning it into a villa. Giacomo Valenti, who was amongst the judges of the great "couple joust" of the Orvieto carnival, in 1542 (Satolli, 1986, pg 157), repaired a portion of the palace, also by assigning the making of some remarkable frescos to the popular Umbrian painter Cesare Nebbia (b. 1535, d. 1614). The culminating point was the construction of a monumental fireplace, in 1541.
His son Federico, together with his wife Lucrezia Ottieri, concluded the restoration, as from 1587, by renovating another wing of the building, which he used as his own abode, and having it decorated with frescos, which have recently been ascribed to Lombardelli (Satolli, 1987, pgs 66-68).
In the 18th century, the castle was owned first by the Salvatori family, then by the Marini, whose last heiress, Emma, married in 1892 the Marques Nicola Serafini Trinci, whose direct successors are still the proprietors of the Castle.
Unfortunately, in 1944, the allied troupes shelled two of the smallest towers, perhaps as a way to discourage attempts of sharp-shooting. Which, since then, were not rebuilt anymore.