CASTELLO RUSPOLI
Medieval Castle located in northern Lazio, home to one of the most important Renaissance Gardens in Europe.
THE FAMILY
A fortress that guards a family story through time. Through the restoration and measures of preservation taken by the Ruspoli family, this masterpiece is known throughout the world, especially in Europe, as being one of the most unique gardens of the Renaissance period.
TIMELINE
THE HISTORY
THE MARRIAGE FARNESE AND MARESCOTTI
In 1531, Pope Clement VII gave the castle to Beatrice Farnese Baglioni. Her daughter, Ortensia, was betrothed to Ercole Sforza Marescotti by Pope Paul III. Farnese and the Castle Vignanello, as it was called at that time, was part of her dowry.
THE RENAISSANCE GARDEN
The garden took shape in 1610 due to Ottavia Orsini, the wife of Marcantonio Marescotti, and daughter of Vicino Orsini, the creator of the extraordinary. Bomarzo garden, who has left indelible proof of her love for this place, her initials and those of her two children Sforza and Galeazzo, thus recording the date of the garden’s creation.
THE RUSPOLI NAME
The name Ruspoli comes from an ancient Florentine family that moved to Siena and was united with the Marescotti family in 1704, when the family youngest heir, Vittoria, was given away in marriage to Sforza Vicino Marescotti.
PRINCE FRANCESCO MARIA RUSPOLI
Prince Francesco Maria Ruspoli received the title from Pope Clement XI (1709) for donating the Ruspoli Regiment in the Comarchio war, against Austria. A prestigious patron of the arts he appointed Handel as chapel master from 1706 to 1709, during which time the musician composed more than 50 cantatas for the Marquis besides the Resurection Oratorio which was performed on Easter day 1707 at Palazzo Bonelli (today Valentini).
WHERE
Situated In northern Lazio, Tuscia borders Tuscany and Umbria and combines influences from each region while remaining distinctly its own. The area has the greatest concentration of historic gardens in the world and is surrounded by vineyards, olive trees and Italy’s largest producers of hazel nuts.
