Orsini Fortress Sorano

Orsini Fortress

The Orsini Fortress of Sorano, one of the most important examples of military architecture in Italy in the Renaissance period.

The Orsini Fortress was built by the Aldobrandeschi in the 13th century. as a military bastion, and subsequently expanded and renovated by the Orsini as a residence. The original and oldest part of the structure can be recognized in the northern part.

In the mid-16th century, important structural interventions completely modified the original structure of the ancient keep

The entrance to the keep was protected by a drawbridge, which has now disappeared, and by a deep moat, which was filled up in the Lorraine age.

The sixteenth-century complex consists of a central keep, where the headquarters, the armory, the powder and saltpeter warehouse, the foundry and the prisons were located. At the base of the building was the guardhouse controlling the main entrance to the fortress.

The Keep is connected to the two side bastions.

These buildings were connected to each other through external and internal walkways, which can now be visited with a guide, equipped with firing points placed in strategic positions. Along the way there are many aeration shafts used to ventilate the underground rooms and suck up the toxic gases originating from the combustion of gunpowder.

Today part of the interior of the fortress houses the Archaeological Museum of Sorano.

The interiors of the fortress today show some important Renaissance stylistic elements, such as some beautiful frescoes from the 1600s.

The icing on the cake of the fortress is the small room located in the octagonal tower, rich in sixteenth-century frescoes (grotesques). On the side walls you can admire mythological scenes; the musical score of a madrigal set to music for four voices is also painted there. It is said that this was the private room of Count Niccolò IV Orsini in which he used to welcome young girls.

Most of the garrison’s activities took place in the large square around it.

It is possible to visit the Orsini Fortress with guides, and also to be accompanied in the basement.

Fortezza Orsini

Piazza Cairoli, 3 – Sorano

+39 0564 633424

Museo e Fortezza Orsini: € 5,00 intero, € 3,50 ridotto.

Biglietto Cumulativo: € 10,00 comprende gli ingressi al Parco archeologico “Città del tufo”, al Museo del Medioevo con la Fortezza Orsini e al Polo Museale di Sovana con il Museo di San Mamiliano.

ORARI 2022

GENNAIO
Dal 1 al 6 con orario 10-13 e 14-17
(Visita guidata ai camminamenti alle ore 12 e 14)

MARZO
Sabato e Domenica con orario 10-12 e 16-18
(Visita guidata ai Camminamenti alle ore 12 e alle ore 15)

DA APRILE A SETTEMBRE
Tutti i giorni con orario 10-12 e 16-18
Giorno di chiusura: Lunedì (eccetto festivi e mese di agosto)
(Visita guidata ai Camminamenti alle ore 12, 15 e 18)

DA OTTOBRE AL PONTE DI OGNISSANTI
Tutti i giorni con orario 10-12 e 16-18
Giorno di chiusura: Lunedì
(Visita guidata ai Camminamenti alle ore 12 e 15)

NOVEMBRE
Sabato e Domenica con orario 10-13 e 14-17
(Visita guidata ai Camminamenti alle ore 12 e 14)

DICEMBRE
PONTE DELL’IMMACOLATA CONCEZIONE (7-8) e FESTIVITA’ NATALIZIE (21 – 23; dal 26 al 31) con orario 10-13 e 14-17
CHIUSO: 24 e 25.
(Visita guidata ai camminamenti alle ore 12 e 14)

Le visite, con partenza dall’interno del museo in piazza Cairoli 3, sono su prenotazione al numero 0564/633767 (in apertura di museo) oppure al 388/572 48 61

Orsini Fortress

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