Castle of Civitella Ranieri

From the Pinewood Ranieri, above the E-45, you can admire the majestic castle of Civitella Ranieri, a splendid example of medieval fortress.

It is one of the most evocative and majestic places in Umbria, built on a hill near the Gubbio-Umbertide road in a strategic position due to its proximity to Perugia, Gubbio and Città di Castello.
The castle of Civitella Ranieri was at the center of a county that belonged to the noble Lords Ranieri. The centuries-old forest that surrounds it still confers a magical charm to the fortress.
It consists of round towers, with escarpment, with protruding arches that are repeated on the facade, all traversed by corbels, in which there are the windows. It is surrounded by walls that allow internal access through two doors, one to the south and one to the north. This is the oldest with remains of a drawbridge.
The present castle stands in the place of a primitive military settlement, near the abbeys of Camporeggiano and San Salvatore, whose construction was started in 1078 by Raniero, brother of the Duke Duke William of Monferrato. The work was completed by his son Uberto who built a "citadel". Hence the origin of the name "Civitella".
In 1992 the Civitella Ranieri Center was established, a meeting point for young people interested in art, music, literature and poetry, funded by the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, an organization based in New York.
The current architectural structure, now internally transformed into welcoming apartments, studios for artists and offices, is the result of subsequent interventions that have changed the original appearance over the years.