Description of the attraction
Castle Castel Sismondo, located in Rimini, once belonged to the powerful ruler of this city, Sigismund Pandolfo Malatesta. Its construction began in March 1437. According to historical chronicles, Malatesta designed the castle himself, although some real architects were involved, such as the famous Filippo Brunelleschi. The construction of the castle took about 15 years.
Initially, Castel Sismondo surrounded a wide moat with a ravelin at the main entrance, on which one could see the heraldic symbol of the Malatesta family and the Gothic inscription "Sigismondo Pandolfo". The powerful walls of the castle, according to historians, could withstand the blow of a new firearm, just in those years, which spread throughout Europe. All the towers were facing Rimini, as in the middle of the 15th century the castle was located outside the city walls. This feature suggests that, most likely, popular uprisings against Malatesta were not uncommon, and the powerful lord had to defend himself from the inhabitants of the city. At one time, each of these square towers was equipped with a bronze cannon.
The central part of Castel Sismondo, which consisted of several buildings, served as the seat of Malatesta. The most beautiful living rooms were decorated with tapestries, frescoes and curtains. Probably, the outer walls of the residence were also decorated - this is evidenced by the traces of majolica that have survived to this day. It was in this castle that Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta died in 1468. In 1821, the castle was turned into a military barracks for the local branch of the Carabinieri. Five years later, its outer walls were torn down and the moat was covered with earth. Today, the preserved central "core" of Castel Sismondo hosts a variety of cultural events.
