AGI – “Good salad and Fratesca chicory, but a little Forbe veal dog better, but freedom better than anything else”. These are the words of a prisoner imprisoned in prisons Caetani Castle of Sermoneta in 1634. Hundreds of these graffiti and engravings have been found in the dungeons of the old mansion in recent years and tell a special story from the time when this place was a military fortress.
The prisons were restored and expanded in recent years by the Roffredo Caetani Foundation, which will exceptionally open it to the public on five dates during the holiday season.
© Archives of the Roffredo Caetani Foundation
The extraordinary opening of the prisons, which will be part of the normal visit program of the castle and for which there will be no increase in the entrance fee (reservation required on the website www.castellocaetanidisermoneta.it), is planned on December 26th and 31st and for January 1st, 6th and 7th, 2024.
© Archives of the Roffredo Caetani Foundation
There is the possibility of visiting the “women’s prisons”, located near the gendarme hall, called in modern times “Camerone”, where graffiti with large inscriptions on scrolls painted in black or red ink, dating from 1606 to 1634 can also be seen the opening of the prisons at the foot of the Maschio, called the “Pinte Rooms” and which contain 18th century graffiti, most likely created by the soldiers of the Napoleonic troops during the occupation of the castle.
© Archives of the Roffredo Caetani Foundation
“During these five days – he explains the President of the Roffredo Caetani Foundation, Massimo Amodio – Visitors have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a very special atmosphere and explore the mysterious history of those who were imprisoned in these places centuries ago.”
“The renovation of the prisons, which the Foundation has completed in recent years, will continue in the near future, as will the restoration and conservation activities of the castle, for which we have extremely important projects, including the provision of new sightseeing routes, which of course also include the following will include.” the dungeon area. So this is a preview of the upcoming holidays, which we are sure our visitors will especially appreciate.”
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