Castle of Civitella Ranieri
This is one of the most beautiful and majestic castles in Umbria, built on a hill near the road Gubbio – Umbertide in a strategic position, given its proximity to Perugia, Gubbio and Citta’ di Castello.
The castle of Civitella Ranieri was at the center of a county ruled by the Ranieri family. The secular woods all around still confer to this manor a magic atmosphere. It is made up of steep round towers with overhanging arches that can also be seen on the facade, entirely covered with brackets housing the windows inside. It is protected by walls allowing two points of access through two doors, respectively on the southern and northern side. The latter is the oldest, bearing the remains of a drawbridge. The castle is built on the site of an old military encampment, near the abbeys of Camporeggiano and St. Salvatore; its construction was started by Raniero, brother of the Duke William of Monferrato, in 1078. The works were completed by his son Umberto, who had a “citadel” built. From here the name “Civitella”. In 1361, during a long battle between aristocrats and common citizens of Perugia, the castle was purchased by the Michelotti family, who self-proclaimed Earle of the castle. However, on June 16th 1407, Ruggero II Ranieri, aka Kahn (a nickname given to commanders in the East), then vulgarized in Cane (dog), son of Constantine I, took the poorly maintained manor back and undertook a further reconstruction. Around 1900, the Castle was inherited by the son of Emanuele Ranieri di Sorbello, pious man and devoted scholar, who rearranged the library and the family archives. In 1992 the Civitella Ranieri Center was constituted, a meeting point for art, music, literature and poetry lovers, supported by the Civitella Ranieri Foundation based in New York. The current structure, now converted into apartments, lofts and offices, is the result of several works carried out over the years that modified its original look.