Castello Baronale di Maenza

About

Baronial Castle was built as a guard tower in the XIIth century by the Lords of Ceccano, it was therefore enlarged in the XIIIth century, and gained importance becoming an inheritance of each second born of the family. In 1274 Lord Annibaldo II de Ceccano hosted St. Thomas of Aquino, his wife Francesca’s uncle. The Saint come here moribund, and after the “miracle of the herrings” he wanted to be led to Fossanova Abbey, where he died soon after. The fortress was enlarged at the end of the XIIth century. In the middle of the XVth century the castle passed to the Caetani family, and thereafter to the other noble families that held the feud. The last owners were the Pecci Lords, that during the 30’s sold it to the accountant Micozzi of Rome, that left it fall in ruins. In 1965 it was restored. Actually it consists in four floors and 25 rooms. Outside the castle there are interesting defensive elements and inside on the first floor there are grotesque frescoes (XVIth century).

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes