In a panoramic location on a rocky slope of the Col del Fer, the site of the Caneva Castle has been inhabited by humans since ancient times. Archaeological evidence has demonstrated the presence of settlements starting in late antiquity, and some experts believe the structure is probably a Roman watchtower flanked by housing and warehouses called canipae, the word which eventually gave the town (Caneva) its name. In 1034, the castle was listed as the property of the Church of Aquileia, but its location, on the border between Friuli and Marca Trevigiana (March of Treviso), made it particularly desirable by these two factions. Continuously struggling for control over western Friuli, ownership of the site went back and forth between them from the 11th to 15th centuries, resulting in devastation and lives lost. In the hands of the Patriarchs, it became a vassal for various members of Friulian aristocracy: Giovanni Zuccola di Spilimbergo in 1297, Federico Savorgnan in 1337 and even Giovanni di Toppo in 1356. Occupied by Carraresi troops, the castle always seemed to return to the Patriarchs of Aquileia, at least until it was conquered by Venetian troops in 1420. Losing importance over time, it was abandoned by the 16th century. All that remains of the castle complex on top of the hill, aside from the church and the bell tower (originally an ancient tower), are traces of the keep and the ruins of the old town hall.

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Caneva Castle - Castello di Caneva - Public Info

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Inserted: 31-01-2023 07:01:25