Palazzo baronale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Baronial Palace | |
|---|---|
Palazzo baronale | |
| Archi | |
 Fortified Palace in Archi | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Location | |
  Baronial Palace | |
| Site history | |
| Built | 11th century |
Palazzo baronale (Italian for Baronial Palace) is a fortified palace in Archi, Province of Chieti (Abruzzo).[1]
The first mention of the castle dates back to the 11th century, when the settlement of Fara Adami was documented, located along the Sangro river and governed by the gastald Raniero and a priest named Adamo. However, the first official document confirming its existence in 1075 is the Catalogus Baronum, compiled by King Roger II of Sicily.
In the 15th century, Archi was a fief of the Caldora family, with the castle subsequently being owned by Jacopo, Antonio, and his son Restaino Caldora.
After various vicissitudes of feudal lords, in 1559, Archi and its castle passed to Martino di Segua. Several notarial documents attest that Martino repeatedly restored some wings of the castle. The work was carried out by master Antonio Malerba. However, in 1563, Martino had to auction the castle to pay off his debts.
Documents from the 17th century report that in 1644, Giovanni Battista Marino was involved in legal issues to inherit the castle.
It then belonged to various feudal lords, the last of whom were the Aldimari of Bomba, who held it until the abolition of feudalism in 1806.[1]
Lastly, it was acquired by the Lannutti family, who lived there until the German seizure in 1943. The Nazis used the castle as a military outpost overlooking the Val di Sangro to monitor the arrival of Allied troops from Perano. Shortly before their retreat to the Alto Sangro mountains, the Nazis damaged and mined the castle, reducing it to its current ruinous state.
