Castello di Giulio II

The Ostiense castle was built in 1483 by the cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, bishop of Ostia and future Pope Giulio II, based on a project by the Florentine architect Baccio Pontelli. The building was completed in 1486 during the papacy of Innocenzo VIII.

The Renaissance structure incorporates the old round tower, built under Pope Martino V in 1423-24, as a protection for the Medieval town. This tower is now the central keep of the castle. Inside the building there were the papal customs authorities, which established the taxes for goods arriving in Rome from maritime trades.

At the beginnig of XVI century, Giulio II commissions important changes: a papal apartment is built in the western side of the building, thanks to the renovating of some pre-existing spaces; a monumental stairway, decorated by Baldassare Peruzzi with frescoes, showing mythological scenes of Hercules.

In 1557 the river Tiber changes its course because of a flood; the castle area becomes swampy and so the Ostiense building and the village are soon abandoned.

In the course of XIX century, the castle is the prison where the sentenced to forced labour are allocated. They are also employed in the archeological excavations in the old town of Ostia.

Nowdays the monumental complex includes a perimeter wall with casematte (cannon-proof rooms), three towers (one of which incorporates the tower of Martino V) and a wide moat.

The Castle of Giulio II is open on Saturdays and on Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm with accompanied tours at 10.30 am, 11.45 am, 1.15 pm, 2.30 pm. Every visiting hours is for 20 people maximum and it is necessary to make the reservation on site.