The history of the Castle of Spilimbergo is intertwined with that of the Lords of the city, the Spengenberg, a family of Carinthian noble origin, loyal to the Empire, among the most notable in the region and among those present in the Parliament of Friuli, "ministeriales" of the Patriarchate of Aquileia.

Leveraging their power and prestige, they often came into conflict with the Patriarch and on more than one occasion plotted against him.

The most famous and dramatic episode occurred in 1350, during the feudal civil war that bloodied Friuli: in the plain of Richinvelda, a few kilometers south of the city, in an ambush, some feudal lords departing from the Castle of Spilimbergo and led by the Spengenberg confronted and killed the old but energetic patriarch (later proclaimed Blessed) Bertrando di San Genesio. From then on, they earned the nickname of bertramini or beltramini, a term with which, even today, the people of Spilimbergo are mockingly called.

The Castle withstood numerous sieges during the medieval wars between the Venetian and Friulian lords, resisting the repeated assaults of the da Camino.

(Excerpt from ViviSpilimbergo - Photo Denis Scarpante)

After crossing the bridge over the moat, you pass under the access tower and arrive in the courtyard.

On the left stands Palazzo Tadea (1566), formerly the Municipal seat, built by Bernardo and completed by his wife Tadea di Spilimbergo in 1566: inside, on the first floor, there is a beautiful hall with 16th-century stuccoes.

Adjacent to it is Palazzo Ciriani (now Furlan), which preserves inside a frieze with stuccoes by Giovanni da Udine from around 1542 and remains of 16th-century frescoes.

A beautiful full-arched stone gate adorned with fossils gives access to Palazzo Troilo (16th century), built by messer Troilo, following the fire of 1511, it was frescoed in 1544 by Marco Tiussi, with paintings that soon deteriorated. In 1864, when Friuli was under Austrian authority, the Palazzo was entrusted to the Municipality and was used as a prison until 1968. Even today, you can see 2 cells on the ground floor. The first floor is instead used as a municipal archive.

Further to the right stands the Palazzo Dipinto, pride of the castle complex, the most important and scenically impressive building, rebuilt at the end of the 14th century on the ruins of a pre-existing building, destroyed by yet another fire: it hosted Charles V in 1532, Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland, in 1566, and also Henry III of France in 1574. The charming and fascinating facade features frescoes depicting horses and grooms, Theological and Cardinal Virtues attributed to Andrea Bellunello (15th century). There are also 2 mullioned windows, one in Gothic style and the other in Renaissance style (1582). Further embellishing the palace are stone elements made by Pilacorte: 2 mullioned balconies and a small balcony.

The adjacent building, known as Conte Ercole's, boasts the Spilimbergo coat of arms, painted by de’ Sacchis, known as il Pordenone.

The extension of the structure is a testament to the previous presence of another wing of the Castle, which connected the east wing with the west one: however, this part was not rebuilt after the fire of 1511 and today allows for a wide and suggestive view of the Tagliamento.

The southwest corner is occupied by a building whose antiquity is attested by remains of pointed arch windows and the unusual thickness of the perimeter walls.

The complex concludes with the large western wing, consisting of a complex of 16th and 17th-century buildings, privately owned, that close the loop, allowing you to return to the entrance tower.

Of the original defensive structures consisting of a double drawbridge, powerful perimeter walls, and various towers, only a few faint traces remain.

(Excerpt from ViviSpilimbergo - Photo Denis Scarpante)