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The lost fortress of Agosta: a medieval castle hidden among village houses
The medieval fortress of Agosta (in the province of Rome) no longer exists as a standalone building. Today, it is the village itself. Walking along Via Castello, one can still find the cobblestones of the courtyard, the worn stone steps, the entrance surmounted by a so-called brethesche (a overhanging wooden or stone structure used to launch projectiles at enemies), and the stone portals of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (St Mary of the Assumption), which once served as the castle chapel. A stroll in the village is like living in modern times and the Middle Ages at the same time.
A thousand years of history with abbots and Norman barons
The history of the fortress began in 1005, when "the entire mountain" and the castle of Agosta, then still under construction, were confirmed to be among the properties of the Abbey of Santa Scolastica via a papal privilege. In 1166, the Norman baron Filippo di Marano imposed his authority over Agosta after decades of conflict with the abbots of Subiaco. Peace was achieved in 1176 through Pope Alexander III. In exchange, Filippo was granted the fiefdom of Jenne. In 1382, the castle was devastated during the Sack of the Colonna family. From that point on, it lost its defensive function, and was slowly integrated into the urban fabric.
The legend of Princess Augusta
The legend of Princess Augusta has to do with the castle’s tall tower: she was reportedly locked away there by her father to prevent her from marrying her lover. It is likely that the village takes its name from her.
