Clan Rising
Ivrea Castle today

Italy · Restored

Ivrea Castle

Castello di Ivrea

Ivrea Castle is a medieval fortress in Piazza Castello, Ivrea, Italy, built in 1358 for Amadeus VI of Savoy. The castle occupies a rectangular plan with four large round towers at the corners and stands beside the cathedral and the bishop's palace. It was later used as a prison and has undergone recent restoration and partial reopening.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1358

Its prime

1358

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1358

What Ivrea Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact rectangular red‑brick fortress with four high cylindrical corner towers rising above long, crenellated curtain walls; towers are built of uniform reddish brick with regularly spaced narrow slit windows and corbelled machicolations supporting the battlements. The main block has low, steep tiled roofs over halls and a smaller rounded turret with a conical tiled cap. The castle sits immediately adjacent to the cathedral and bishop's palace, backed by the town’s clustered terracotta roofs.

Its story

The story of Ivrea Castle.

Ivrea Castle was built in 1358 on behalf of Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, to signify the dominance of the House of Savoy over the region. It stands at Piazza Castello beside the cathedral and the bishop's palace, on a rectangular plan with four large round towers at the corners.

Later used as a prison, the castle is mentioned in the work of Giosuè Carducci. It is currently owned by the Municipality of Ivrea, which has intensified restoration efforts in recent years to open it to the public.

Step inside

5 places to explore in 1358.

The record describes 5 distinct spots at Ivrea Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from Piazza CastelloCurtain wall and battlementsNorthwestern round tower (corner donjon)Top of an eastern round tower looking over the townCastle beside the cathedral and bishop's palace

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Recreate Ivrea Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1358, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Ivrea Castle.

The families that held Ivrea Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Savoy

    Built in 1358 for Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, to mark the house's dominance over the region.

From the archive

Ivrea Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Ivrea Castle, Ivrea Castle

Ivrea Castle

· Turin Gallery for Modern and Contemporary Art (via Europeana)

CC BY

Castello di Ivrea, Ivrea Castle

Castello di Ivrea

· Turin Gallery for Modern and Contemporary Art (via Europeana)

CC BY

Castello di Ivrea, Ivrea Castle

Castello di Ivrea

· Turin Gallery for Modern and Contemporary Art (via Europeana)

CC BY

Questions about Ivrea Castle

What is the history of Ivrea Castle?

Ivrea Castle was built in the 14th century to signify the dominance of the House of Savoy over the region. Construction began in 1358 for Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, and the castle later became a Savoy residence before being converted into a prison in the 18th century. A 1676 explosion destroyed the north-western tower, which was never rebuilt to its full height.

What is inside Ivrea Castle?

Inside Ivrea Castle are rooms and spaces arranged around an internal courtyard, including a well and an ice house. The ice house has a diameter of 6 metres and a depth of 4 metres. Access was through an outer gate and a suspended drawbridge over a moat, while a wall-walk ran around the battlements.

Who owns Ivrea Castle now?

Ivrea Castle is currently owned by the Municipality of Ivrea. Restoration efforts have intensified in recent years, and works begun in January 2023 led to its reopening in July 2024. It also has Italian national heritage designation.

Why was Ivrea Castle built, and what was it used for?

Ivrea Castle was built as a defensive fortress and to mark the dominance of the House of Savoy over the region. After its military purpose declined, it served as a refined Savoy residence and later became a prison from the 18th century until 1970. It was subsequently restored and reopened in July 2024.

Where is Ivrea Castle?

Ivrea Castle is in the city of Ivrea, in Piedmont, beside the cathedral and the bishop's palace. It stands in Piazza Castello, in the upper part of the city, in a strategic position overlooking the road leading to the Aosta Valley.

When was Ivrea Castle built?

Ivrea Castle was built in 1358, placing its construction in the 14th century. Construction began for Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, and the work was completed between 1393 and 1395. The castle was therefore built in stages rather than finished in its starting year.

What did Ivrea Castle look like in its prime?

The main structure of Ivrea Castle is a compact rectangular red-brick fortress with four high cylindrical corner towers. Its crenellated curtain walls have narrow slit windows and corbelled machicolations, while the main block has steep tiled roofs and a smaller rounded turret with a conical cap. It stands beside the cathedral and bishop's palace, among the town's terracotta roofs.

Is Ivrea Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Ivrea Castle is still standing and is restored rather than a ruin. The north-western tower was damaged by a 1676 explosion and was never rebuilt to its full height, but later restoration included the roofs and the merlons of the towers. Further restoration works began in January 2023.

Who built Ivrea Castle?

Ivrea Castle was commissioned by Amadeus VI of Savoy and designed by the architect Ambrogio Cognon. Construction began in 1358 and was completed between 1393 and 1395. Amadeus VI commissioned the fortress, while Ambrogio Cognon was entrusted with the architectural work.

Can you visit Ivrea Castle?

Ivrea Castle is open to the public. Restoration works begun in January 2023 led to its reopening in July 2024. The castle is owned by the Municipality of Ivrea and has Italian national heritage designation.

Which family or clan held Ivrea Castle?

The Savoy family held Ivrea Castle. It was built in 1358 for Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, to mark the dominance of the House of Savoy over the region.

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