Description of the attraction
Castello Agolanti Castle once belonged to the powerful Agolanti family, who ruled in the resort town of Riccione. Some historians believe that Agolanti was expelled from Florence and settled in Riccione around 1260.
The castle stands on a hill outside the city. When Agolanti was at the height of his fame, members of many royal families and simply noble guests stayed in their luxurious residence, among whom was, for example, Queen Christina of Sweden. She stayed here in 1657 during her trip to Rome. Members of the Agolanti family held important posts in Riccione and had connections with other rulers, including the famous Sigismund Malatesta. In the city itself, they had several palaces, and they used the castle as a resting place. From its high walls, the Agolanti could control a vast area of agricultural land.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Castello Agolanti became the property of another family, and in 1786 it was seriously damaged by an earthquake. Its walls partially collapsed, and the building itself was used as a farmhouse for a long time after that. In 1982, the castle was bought by the municipality of Riccione, on the initiative of which large-scale restoration work was carried out in it. The area around Castello Agolanti was also improved. Today it is one of the main attractions of Riccione, open to tourists and attracting incredibly beautiful views of the Adriatic coast, opening from the castle walls. In addition, a kind of scout association was created at the castle, who study the history of Castello Agolanti, organize tours and stage small plays on the theatrical stage of the castle.
