The Colonna Pelagallo castle in Riofreddo was built on a previous outpost from the Roman era which dominated the Tiburtina Valeria road. Its history is characterized by passages between various noble families starting from the Colonna who gave birth to the Riofreddo branch of the family.
For a short period of about 11 years, Pope Boniface VIII assigned the feud of Riofreddo to the Orsini family but, upon his death, it returned to the branch of the Colonna family. These ruled the country residing in the castle and they are responsible for the construction of the beautiful frescoed church of the Annunziata. Their story is also reported in the municipal coat of arms but the Colonnas died out in 1459.
Around the middle of the 16th century the Castle of Riofreddo was then sold to the Del Drago family who came from Viterbo and whose members first became marquises of Riofreddo and then princes.
The ownership of the castle then passed to the Pelegallo family and after a period of decline today the imposing fortress is undergoing renovation.
The building has a square plan with cylindrical towers at the four corners (of which two remain) and a keep at the front.
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