It used to be the residence of the Colloredo-Mels aristocratic family, and famous Italian writer Ippolito Nievo called it home for a while.
The castle was built in the 14th century at the behest of Wilhelm, a member of the Swabian branch of the Waldsee family. His ancestors had come to Italy to support the campaigns of Konrad II of Swabia. They then decided to stay in Friuli, establishing themselves in the fiefdoms of Mels, Venzone and Prodolone, and built a castle in Mels. The construction was completed by the three children who became the first to adopt the Colloredo-Mels surname, thus starting the three family branches. Later they decided to build another castle on a neighbouring hill for defence purposes. Over the centuries it became a sumptuous Renaissance palace, complete with an imposing entrance tower known as the Clock Tower, which could be accessed via a drawbridge, a guardhouse and two large wings protected by two watchtowers. Inside the West Wing there was a study opulently decorated with stuccos and frescoes by Giovanni da Udine (1487-1564).
Prominent members of the Colloredo-Mels dynasty include Ermes di Colloredo (1622-1692) who was a distinguished guest at the court of Emperor Leopold I of Hapsburg in Vienna thanks to his military feats. In the latter part of his life, he devoted his time to writing in the Friulian language. To this day he is regarded as one of the most influential exponents of Baroque literature. Another illustrious member of the family is Hieronymus di Colloredo, the last prince-bishop of Salzburg (1772-1800), who introduced several Enlightenment-inspired reforms.
Prominent members of the Colloredo-Mels dynasty include Ermes di Colloredo (1622-1692) who was a distinguished guest at the court of Emperor Leopold I of Hapsburg in Vienna thanks to his military feats. In the latter part of his life, he devoted his time to writing in the Friulian language. To this day he is regarded as one of the most influential exponents of Baroque literature. Another illustrious member of the family is Hieronymus di Colloredo, the last prince-bishop of Salzburg (1772-1800), who introduced several Enlightenment-inspired reforms.
The castle was severely damaged by the 1976 earthquake. The reconstruction efforts undertaken in the nineties are almost complete. Some fragments of Giovanni da Udine’s frescoes can be viewed in the West Wing by prior appointment with the Comunità Collinare del Friuli (Friulian Hills Community).
Curiosity
In the 19th century the castle became the home of Italian writer Ippolito Nievo, who found his inspiration for his novels and poems in the castle and neighbouring villages and particularly so for “Confessions of an Italian”, written in 1858, which sums up his love for Friuli in this excerpt:
“Friuli is a small compendium of the universe – mountain, plain and swamp in sixty miles from the North to the South…”
For tourist information
Infopoint Udine
Tel. +39 0432 295972
info.udine@promoturismo.fvg.it
Curiosity
In the 19th century the castle became the home of Italian writer Ippolito Nievo, who found his inspiration for his novels and poems in the castle and neighbouring villages and particularly so for “Confessions of an Italian”, written in 1858, which sums up his love for Friuli in this excerpt:
“Friuli is a small compendium of the universe – mountain, plain and swamp in sixty miles from the North to the South…”
For tourist information
Infopoint Udine
Tel. +39 0432 295972
info.udine@promoturismo.fvg.it
Venzone - Udine
3.0 km
12 min
DISTANCE FROM THE ROUTE