Overview
Brancaleoni Castle, or Palazzo Brancaleoni, is a building in Piobbico, in the Pesaro and Urbino province.
It belonged to the Brancaleoni counts, lords of the territory from 1213 to 1816.
It was built in the 13th century as a fortress and transformed in 1573-1587 into a splendid Renaissance residence at the behest of the Counts of Piobbico, Guido and Roberto.
Today the complex comprises buildings that were added to the original construction, stretching out on the ridge of the rock that dominates the centre of the wide basin where the village lies.
The clock tower, with its anticlockwise rotation, overlooks the residence. Upon entering, you are struck by the courtyard of honour designed by architect Baccio Pontelli and built by Count Guido Antonio I Brancaleoni, captain of the Duke of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro.
Inside, you can admire the private room of Count Antonio II, known as the 'Greek room'. The room is frescoed with episodes of Hellenic history and mythology created in 1585 by Giorgio Picchi, a sculptor from Casteldurante (Urbania) while the stuccoes are by Federico Brandani.
Interesting frescoes attributed to Federico Zuccari celebrate the Brancaleoni family.
The rooms of the building now house the Brancaleoni civic museum.
Photo credit: Regione Marche
