The Orsini Castle of Nerola (RM), characterised by four differently shaped corner towers, dates to the second half of the 11th century when Napoleone Orsini, and later his son Gentil Virginio, built over the remains of the fortress of the Prefects of Vico.
Bought by Pope Urban II in 1092 it was a papal property for several centuries before being returned to the Orsini family. During the 1500s it accommodated Galileo Galilei and also Pope Gregory XIV who came here to avoid the plague in Rome. The frescoes attributed to Taddeo and Federico Zuccari date to this period. During the 1600s the castle passed to the Odescalchi family, then to King William III of England and returned to the popes in 1730. Here Pope Pius VI met Napoleon Bonaparte.
Abandoned for over a century, the castle was acquired and restored by footballer Giuseppe Meazza who used it as the location for a huge party to celebrate Italy’s victory in the World Cup. Not long after, Mussolini built a theatre here and then gave it to Marquis Ferrari Frey. It has been used as a hotel since 1994.
Roma Lazio Film Commission
Via Tuscolana 1055 — 00173 Roma
Phone: +39 06 72286273/320
Fax: +39 06 722 1127
Email: info@romalaziofilmcommission.it
