The Orsini castle, also called the baronial palace, dominates the whole image of Cineto Romano and determined the history of the beautiful village in the Aniene Valley.
The castle is imposing, located on a cliff overlooking the valley and the first lord we know of is a certain Giovanni de Marso, who probably arrived from nearby Marsica. In the 13th century the de Marsos gave part of the fortress to Cardinal Napoleone Orsini. The Orsini family then went on to take the other half of the fortress thanks to an exchange with the castle of Mandela.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the troops of Ascanio Colonna tried to conquer the castle which resisted together with the dominion of the Orsini.
At the end of the sixteenth century, Beatrice Cenci was imprisoned in the castle after the murder of her violent father, before being taken to Petrella.
From 1612 the castle of Cineto Romano (which at that time was called Scarpa) and the feud were sold to the Borghese family of Sulmona.
Finally, in 1934, the castle passed to the Oblate Fathers of Mary who divided it into apartments which they sold to private individuals.
The castle is accessed by walking along the medieval streets of the ancient village until you reach a large staircase that passes through the ancient guard post with turret. This was the main entrance to the castle and the civic bell was located on the turret, later replaced in the 15th century by a large municipal clock still in operation today.
You finally arrive at the door that leads to the inner courtyard of the castle and in the small square you can still see a fountain of pure water.
The walls are still clearly visible and have loopholes and end with Ghibelline merlons.
The castle hides many mysterious stories and in the ancient chronicles of the 16th century of the Land of Scarpa - Terra di Scarpa (ancient name of Cineto Romano), it is said that it was used as a "prison for capital crimes".
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