En un regard
Le château en bref
The ruins of Serravalle Castle stand in the municipality of the same name, on a rocky spur overlooking the Valle di Blenio.
The origins of the castle remain obscure. The first building erected on the site probably dates from the Carolingian period, while the first written mention dates from 1162, when the lord of Blenio, Alcherio da Torre, held control of it. Alcherio supported the cause of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who appointed him advocate of the valley in order to better control the access road to the Lukmanier Pass. In 1182, the inhabitants of the Blenio and Leventina valleys signed a pact of alliance called the Patto di Torre, with the aim of dispossessing the lord of the castle, who was besieged. Artusio da Torre, son of Alchiero, was forced to surrender. The castle was razed, as were the other manor houses of the neighbouring valleys. At the beginning of the 13th century, Rodolfo de Orelli settled in Biasca as vicar. His family rebuilt the castle and made it their residence. Meanwhile, the Visconti controlled Milan and, as a consequence, also the three Ambrosian valleys. Two centuries later, the lords of Milan ceded the castle to the Pepoli family of Bologna. According to popular tradition, the new lord was assassinated in an ambush and the castle was destroyed a second time.
The fortress fell into ruin and was abandoned, except for the small church of Santa Maria del Castello, located to the south and below the castle. The present building dates from the 16th century.
