Castle of Santa Severa

The Castle of Santa Severa is one of the most important areas of historical and archaeological interest on the Tyrrhenian coast north of Rome. It stands on the site of Pyrgi, the port city connected to the ancient Caere, now Cerveteri founded between the late seventh and early sixth century BC in the area where today stands the Castle of Santa Severa. The Etruscan city of Pyrgi is developed all around the harbor for an area of about 10 hectares, which included the area now occupied by the village castle also ‘area of the sanctuary at the southern end (excavated by the Institute of Etruscologia University La Sapienza of Rome for over fifty years).

During the course of the third century BC with the romanization of the coastal area, part of the Etruscan settlement was founded by the Roman castrum Pyrgi, surrounded by walls in polygonal. The site was probably inhabited without interruption until late antiquity (IV – V century BC.) And it is thanks to the continuity of life on the ruins of the Roman fort that was formed in the Middle Ages the village known as Castellum Sanctae Severae.

The castle itself was built in the fourteenth century and the village was formed as with various stages of construction during the XV – XVI century.

Over the centuries the ownership of the castle passed through several owners until in 1482 it became a possession of the ‘Order of the Holy Spirit who was the owner for five hundred years, until 1980. Today, the property of the monumental complex belongs to the Lazio region and was entrusted to manage the City of Santa Marinella.

Thanks to recent restoration work funded by the Province of Rome and the Lazio Region Castle of Santa Severa is poised to become one of the most important cultural centers on the coast north of Rome, for it is planned to set up a museum that will include the already existing National Museum Antiquarium of Pyrgi, Museum of the Sea and Navigation Old and the new Museum of the fortress, through which retrace the historical site.

Rocca will be exhibited in the museum of the artifacts found during the excavations that took place in conjunction with the restoration and cared for by the Superintendent and volunteers of the Archaeological Group of the territory Cerite that have brought to light in the courtyard of a Roman-era fortress Imperial, a necropolis and an early Christian church of the fifth century, presumably to be related to the cult of the holy martyr eponima.Il Museum Rocca will find its place within the premises of the fortress castle whose construction involves a 3D reconstruction of the Castle Santa Severa, modeled on that of the Roman Domus of Palazzo Valentini who will accompany visitors on a virtual journey from the evidence of Neanderthal man until ‘Etruscan, Roman and Medieval times. This multimedia project, edited by Piero Angela and Paco Lanciano, and the project of excavation and restoration of the castle itself, were presented at the Forum Pa.

Inside the fortress over to the Museum are planned multifunctional spaces to house temporary exhibitions and other cultural activities. The buildings surrounding the courtyard of the fortress are allocated to the creation of a conference center with guest quarters on the upper floors.

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