Castle of Casacastalda

The castle has been covered by new buildings, it preserves two of the three doors. According to the Jacobilli, which refers to other historians, it seems that the castle took its name from a certain Ernero Castaldo of Lombard origin. It is certain that during the period of Longobard domination, the duchies were divided into gastaldati, ruled by a steward or castaldo with administrative, military and judicial appointments. With this it means that the castle could have been at least a representation of the public office, that is a house, a residence, the house of the castaldo, from which Casa Castalda. This name, however, could also be the summary, let's say, of the denomination of territory, ie campaign with lands and houses dependent on the castaldo; however, it appears that the name has, since the most ancient name, the status of castrum, ie castle, then fortified place, military place, but that could also be home to the rural who, in the evening, came back with their own animals, from the countryside : it was one of the ways to defend and defend itself especially in times of war. Fragmentary but well-documented news, collected by the scholar Dr. Gaetano Bensi in his historical volume "The Castle of Casacastalda and its Pieve", trace the origin of this country to the people of the Umbrians, around 1000 BC. To those wishing to know the first documentation of the foundation of the castle, one must immediately say that it does not exist. It is known, however, that in the century. XII, Casa Castalda depends on the monastery of S. Maria di Valfabbrica, while, in the following century, it belongs to the Eugubino territory, however the Longobard foundation remains certain. It preserves a good part of the walls, placed in an almost circular shape in a "diamond" shape, with a diameter of about 100 meters, equipped with defense works, including 3 security towers that also form the three gates of the castle: door Perugina that of the south, Giglio's gate that of the north, brings Eugubina to the west.