First mentioned in 1217 as the property of the Monastery of Sant'Alessio sull'Aventino in a Papal bull by Pope Honorius III, the Castle of Cecchignola, in Rome, is today the result of various historical eras. It passed to Cardinal Bessarion in the 1400s, then to the Margani and Barberini families and later to Scipione Borghese who commissioned its restoration in the 1600s.
The complex has retained a medieval appearance, mostly thanks to the main tower, which is now two thirds of its original height. Originally 45m high, it has a Roman pediment while other structural elements are also Roman, such as the paving slabs from ancient roads, probably removed from the nearby Via Ardeatina. A second construction phase dates to the 1200s, while a third has been identified as late 1700-early 1800s.
Alongside the tower are a farmhouse, some partially visible walls and a small church with Baroque decorative elements on the exterior and neo-classical decorations inside. The Castle today houses the Università dei Marmorari and a library on the history of art with special emphasis on stone materials.
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