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30-488: The town is served by an urban railway (Line FR3) which connects it with Rome (stations of Ostiense and Valle Aurelia) in about 55 minutes. Close to it lie the two medieval towns of Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano . Bracciano's territory lies on the western edge of the Sabatine Hills, a low volcanic hills range encircling Lake Bracciano . There is no certain information about the origins of Bracciano, on

60-564: A Girl Who... , Incantato , Imperial Venus , The Agony and the Ecstasy , The Wedding Party , Luisa Sanfelice , Coco Chanel , Medici: Masters of Florence , Castle of the Living Dead (1964), Kath & Kimderella , and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure . The castle has hosted a number of events, especially weddings of wealthy actors and singers. Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were married at

90-579: A central courtyard with pillars and three floors with cross vaults which have now disappeared. It was lavishly decorated with 19 types of marble. The covered side corridors retain traces of marble cladding on the walls. A cistern is also preserved nearby. The Everybody Loves Raymond fifth season two-part episode "Italy" was filmed in Anguillara Sabazia. [REDACTED] Media related to Anguillara Sabazia at Wikimedia Commons Castello Orsini-Odescalchi Castello Orsini-Odescalchi

120-536: A flourishing town, famous in the whole of Italy for its castle, which was enlarged, starting from 1470, by Napoleone Orsini and his son Virginio . In 1481 it was host to Pope Sixtus IV , who had fled from the plague in Rome; the Sala Papalina in one of the corner towers commemorates the event. Four years later, however, the city and the castle were ravaged by Papal troops under Prospero Colonna , and subsequently,

150-619: A new line of walls was built. The construction of the Orsini-Odescalchi Castle was started by Napoleon Orsini of the Orsini family in 1470. It was completed by his son Virginio Gentil, in 1485. Francesco di Giorgio Martini was the architect. Over the centuries of its existence, the castle has been the venue of many a conflict between Colonna and Borgia noble families. In 1494, Charles VIII of France and his troops marching against Rome stopped at Bracciano. This act led to

180-892: A number of historical military aircraft, including famous planes such as the MC. 202 , the Supermarine Spitfire , the Savoia Marchetti S.79 , the F-104 Starfighter , the Caproni Ca.100 and the Panavia Tornado . Also on view is a remarkable collection of three Schneider Cup racers, including the Macchi M.C.72 . The museum stages an annual 'Giornata Azzura' airshow at Pratica di Mare airport. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate

210-513: Is " Csa " (Mediterranean climate). Bracciano is twinned with Anguillara Sabazia Anguillara Sabazia is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome , Lazio , central Italy , around 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Rome . It nestles on a small cape on the coast of Lake Bracciano ; its medieval center and its beach make it a popular destination for tourists. About 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of

240-577: Is a castle in Bracciano, Lazio , Italy. It is located on the southern shore of Lake Bracciano . It was built in the 15th century, and combines the functions of a military defence structure and a civilian residence of the feudal lords of the period, the Orsini and Borgia , both papal families. As one of the largest and best-maintained castles in Italy , it also houses a museum; as a centre of cultural events,

270-529: Is its castle, Castello Orsini-Odescalchi , one of the most noteworthy examples of Renaissance military architecture in Italy. 3 km (2 mi) outside the city, alongside the road leading to Trevignano Romano, is the ancient church of San Liberato (ninth century). It occupies what was once the Roman settlement of Forum Clodii , now surrounded by an herb garden , part of the complex of English-style gardens at

300-471: Is the main monument in Bracciano. The castle underwent many renovations since its inception. In the castle, richly frescoed friezes and ceilings were created. Richly coloured tapestries were made when the lords of Bracciano were in residence. The important late 15th-century frieze showing the labours of Hercales is still visible. The historical museum within the castle premises has valuable artwork from

330-637: The Orsini to 1234. The area was later acquired by the Roman hospital of Santo Spirito in Sassia and, from 1375, was a Papal possession. In 1419 the Colonna Pope Martin V confirmed the fief of Bracciano in the Orsini family branch of Tagliacozzo . Under this powerful family the city developed into a flourishing town, famous in the whole of Italy for its castle, which was enlarged, starting from 1470, by Napoleone Orsini and his son Virginio . In 1481 it housed Pope Sixtus IV , who had fled from

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360-467: The Taddeo Zuccari and Federico Zuccari brothers. The sixteenth century was a period of splendour for Bracciano and the castle. In 1558, the notorious Paolo Giordano I Orsini , marrying Isabella de' Medici, daughter of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany , received the title of duke of Bracciano. However, the lavish life of the greedy Orsini family eventually affected the economic conditions of

390-574: The Via Cassia overlooking the lake. It probably rose from one of the numerous towers built in the tenth century as a defence against the Saracen attacks, as implied by the ancient name of Castrum Brachiani . In the eleventh century the neighbouring territory was acquired by the Prefetti di Vico family, who turned the tower into a castle. Ferdinand Gregorovius dated the possession of Bracciano by

420-411: The 1st century. The complex was a luxury retreat, possibly the residential part of a latifundium . There is evidence for continuing activity till the 3d or early 4th century. The remains of the three-story building in cement with brick cladding are still preserved to about 18 m in height. There are arched openings towards the outside framed by pillars of yellow and red bricks. Inside the building has

450-457: The Castello has hosted several high-profile weddings such as those of Tom Cruise / Katie Holmes , Eros Ramazzotti / Michelle Hunziker , and Petra Ecclestone /James Stunt. The well-preserved medieval castle Castello Orsini-Odescalchi is located in the city of Bracciano, 30 km away from Rome . It is located near the western shore of the volcanic lake ( Lago di Bracciano or "Sabatino",

480-521: The Middle Ages of over six centuries rule of Popes and Kings, consisting of ancient weapons, furniture and paintings, books and manuscripts, frescoes and decorations. It was opened in 1952 by Prince Livio Odescalchi IV . A number of films, TV series, and TV programs have been set in the castle: Othello , Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 , More Than a Miracle , On My Way to the Crusades, I Met

510-488: The Orsini stronghold a few years later. During this time the castle underwent modifications with many interior decorations created in the form of paintings and frescoes by Antoniazzo Romano , a Roman painter and sculptor of the 15th century. Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere , had shifted from Rome to this castle during the plague epidemic. At this time, the rooms where the Pope stayed were decorated with frescoes by

540-645: The Pope, the honorific of the Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Subsequent to the French occupation, the castle was looted of its valuable furniture. The castle and the estate were under Duke Marino Torlonia of the Torlonia family until 1848 when it was sold to Prince Livio Odescalchi III . The Castello Orsini-Odescalchi is one of the most noteworthy examples of Renaissance military architecture in Italy and

570-586: The adjoining Villa San Librato , designed by Russell Page in 1965 for the art historian conte Donato Sanminatelli and his contessa, Maria Odescalchi, and carried out over the following decade. On the same road are the ruins of the Aquae Apollinaris , a complex of baths famous in the Roman age. At Vigna di Valle, next to the lake, the former seaplane base today houses the Italian Air Force Museum . The museum's four hangars hold

600-475: The ancient name of Castrum Brachiani . In the eleventh century the neighbouring territory was acquired by the Prefetti di Vico family, who turned the tower into a castle. Ferdinand Gregorovius dated the possession of Bracciano by the Orsini to 1234. From 1375, it was a Papal possession. In 1419, the Colonna Pope Martin V confirmed the fiefdom of Bracciano in the Orsini family branch of Tagliacozzo . Under this powerful family, Bracciano developed into

630-403: The castle, which a modern tourist tradition would have her haunting. The economy was boosted by the exploitation of sulphur and iron, the production of tapestries and paper. The latter was favoured by the construction of an aqueduct whose ruins can still be seen in the city. Bracciano in this period had some 4,500 inhabitants. However, the expensive tenor of life of the Orsini eventually damaged

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660-504: The city was besieged by a papal army headed by Giovanni di Candia , son of Pope Alexander VI Borgia, though it resisted successfully. Cesare Borgia , another of Alexander's natural sons, was unsuccessful in his attempt to take the Orsini stronghold a few years later. The sixteenth century was a period of splendour for Bracciano. The notorious spendthrift and libertine Paolo Giordano I Orsini , having married in 1558 Isabella de' Medici , daughter of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany , received

690-525: The city. The last great ruler was probably Paolo Giordano II , a patron of arts and literature which made Bracciano a centre of culture in Italy. The decline culminated in 1696 when the castle was sold to Livio Odescalchi, nephew of Pope Innocent XI ; the Odescalchi family still retain the castle. Emperor Leopold I, as recognition for services rendered in the war against the Turks, gave Livy, nephew of

720-472: The economic conditions of the city. The last great ruler was probably Paolo Giordano II , a patron of arts and literature who made Bracciano a center of culture in Italy. The decline culminated in 1696 when the castle was sold to Livio Odescalchi , nephew of Pope Innocent XI ; the Odescalchi family still retain the castle. In the castle, richly frescoed friezes and ceilings now contrast with blank walls, which were hung with richly coloured tapestries when

750-511: The eighth largest lake in Italy). The railway line FR3 connects it with Rome (stations of Ostiense and Valle Aurelia ) in about 55 minutes. Close to it lie the two medieval towns of Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano . The castle's earliest history is inferred to be linked to one of the numerous towers built in the tenth century as a defence against the Saracen attacks , as implied by

780-457: The ex-communication of the Orsini. In 1496, the castle which was under the Orsini family who were politically well connected and prosperous, attracted the ire of Pope Alexander VI whose son Giovanni di Candia led a papal army and tried to capture it. However, the Orsinis successfully resisted the attack. Cesare Borgia , another of Alexander's natural sons, was unsuccessful in his attempt to take

810-446: The lords of Bracciano were in residence. The important late-15th century frieze showing the labours of Hercules is still visible. The main economic activities are tourism, services and agriculture. Until the twentieth century the region was notoriously unhealthy for its malaria , now eradicated; as a result, none of the fine villas were built at the water's edge, but all stood on healthier rises of ground. The main monument of Bracciano

840-402: The plague in Rome; the Sala Papalina in one of the corner towers commemorates the event. Four years later, however, the city and the castle were ravaged by Papal troops under Prospero Colonna , and subsequently a new line of walls was built. In 1494 Charles VIII of France and his troops marching against Rome stopped at Bracciano. This act led to the excommunication of the Orsini, and in 1496

870-522: The title of duke of Bracciano in 1560. The castello received some modernization for the brief visit of the Medici that year. He hired the most prestigious painter available in Rome, Taddeo Zuccaro , to fresco with allegories and coats-of-arms the fortress's most prestigious room, the Sala Papalinia that had been occupied by Sixtus IV. Isabella spent the remainder of her life avoiding a return to

900-517: The town lies the small, volcanic Lake Martignano , also popular with tourists. The two lakes and the surrounding area have been declared a Regional Park and are under a strict naturalistic control. Nearby at Mura di Santo Stefano about 3 km south of Lake Bracciano lie the remarkable remains of a great ancient Roman villa. It was located along the Via Clodia and was built at the end of the 2nd century AD, probably on an earlier villa rustica of

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