Castel Sismondo

Sismondo Castle is a castle in Rimini in the Italian region Emilia -Romagna

Started from the original building, on March 20, 1437 by the ruler of Rimini Sigismondo Malatesta, today only the central core is obtained, which was originally surrounded by a further round of walls and a moat. According to contemporary chronicles, Malatesta said to have designed the castle itself. However, it is known that several architects were involved in the construction, including Filippo Brunelleschi, two months in Rimini worked in 1438. The construction of the castle took 15 years.

In the initial state, the castle was surrounded by a Ravelin who wore the coat of arms of the noble family Malatesta at the main gate. The walls should have been thick enough to withstand the then known in Europe all guns. Although the castle was originally built outside the city, all towers were directed toward town. In the earlier research, this was often seen in conjunction with the popular image of Sigismondo Malatesta as a despot, who lived in constant fear of an uprising of the people against him. However, Helen Ettlinger could disprove this and show that the Castel actually represented a very effective measure to defend the city to the outside and was designed incorporating the latest technological innovations of the time in the fortress.

The central part of the castle was the residence of the ruler and decorated the rooms with carpets, curtains and frescoes.

Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta died here in 1468.

In 1821, the castle was converted into a barracks for the carabinieri. Five years later, the exterior walls were torn down and filled the trench. Today the building is used for exhibitions.