| Verzuolo Castle | |
| Native Name: | Castello di Verzuolo |
| Location: | Verzuolo, Piedmont |
| Owner: | Om.e.g Srl |
| Location Country: | Italy |
| Coordinates: | 44.6036°N 7.4696°W |
| Inauguration Date: | 1377 |
Verzuolo Castle (it|Castello di Verzuolo) is a medieval castle in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is located in the Province of Cuneo near Verzuolo, around 3miles south of Saluzzo.[1] [2]
The castle was originally built in the 11th century. In 1377, Frederick II, Marquess of Saluzzo ordered it to be demolished and rebuilt larger and more heavily fortified.[3] His successors continued to improve it as the main fortress of the Marquisate of Saluzzo.[4]
In 1529, Giovanni Ludovico, Marquess of Saluzzo, was imprisoned in the castle.[5] [6]
In 1600 the castle facade was renovated, changing its aspect from that of a military fortress to that of a luxury mansion, and it has since been used as a summer residence, including by Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and Giambattista Bodoni.[7]
In the early 20th century the family line of the counts of Verzuolo died out, and the castle passed to Amedeo Mola di Larissé. It fell into neglect; on 18 June 1916, one of the two rectangular towers collapsed, destroying much of the castle archives, including important documents about the history of Piedmont.[7] [8] The remaining rectangular tower was demolished in 1938 together with the Belvedere tower.[7]
In July 2022 the castle was sold to Om.e.g Srl, a property developer, with the intention of converting it into a hotel or other tourist facility.[9]