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Reading Italian Castles: A Crash Course with Giacomo Zavatteri

Reading Italian Castles: A Crash Course with Giacomo Zavatteri


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Castles first emerged during the Middle Ages as fortified structures mainly used by royalty or the nobility and by military orders. Neither just a fortress nor a palace, a castle is a fascinating combination of the two. This conversation will give participants the tools to understand some of these charming structures so future visits are enhanced. For simplicity’s sake, the seminar will focus purely on Italian castles.

We’ll start with a brief introduction to the origin of European castles in Medieval times and just why they are called “castles”. We’ll then introduce some basic structures in order to better understand the topic, with practical examples as sources. We’ll discuss in detail the single elements of a castle, their functions, and how they evolved over the centuries.

Throughout the seminar, there will be extensive use of pictures of real Italian castles in order to make the process more relatable for participants. We’ll learn about some of the most beautiful and preserved castles in Italy. In our final section of our seminar, we will learn about the introduction of gunfire in warfare in the 1300s and 1400s and how methods of building and fortifying castles as a result.

Led by the expert on Italian fortified architecture Giacomo Zavatteri, this interactive seminar will introduce participants to Italian castles. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, listeners will come away with an increased understanding of Italian fortified architecture and the tools to distinguish myth from the much more interesting reality.

Giacomo has a degree in Preservation of Cultural Heritage with a specialization in Medieval Art. After an internship at Handel House Museum in London, UK, he returned to Italy to work as a professional translator. He has been a professional tour guide in Milano since 2005. Deeply in love with his city, he likes to unveil her secret charm, discover hidden stories of the most important monuments, and understand why people of the past built them and how they looked at them. He loves to share hidden spots even locals do not know and is always looking for new places for the best gelato, food, and drinks.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
75%
(3)
25%
(1)
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L
L. (Saint Paul, US)
Very interesting

Giacomo does an excellent job explaining the origins and history of castles - very informative and well presented!

E
Elisa (Rome, IT)
A fantastic excursion in time and space

we traveled throughout the Italian peninsula to discover wonderful castles, and Giacomo explained us how they have been modified during the course of history.

E
Elena (Trequanda, IT)
Captivating lesson!

I loved this course!
I found it effective and consistent but also captivating.
Giacomo illustrated the history of castles and their main features, how they were used and changed according to the Evolution of medieval warfare.
The timeframe allotted was efficiently managed.

Giacomo is an excellent speaker, and his lecture was clear and engaging. I absolutely recommend him!

K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Good talk by an expert

Good talk by an expert

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
75%
(3)
25%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
L
L. (Saint Paul, US)
Very interesting

Giacomo does an excellent job explaining the origins and history of castles - very informative and well presented!

E
Elisa (Rome, IT)
A fantastic excursion in time and space

we traveled throughout the Italian peninsula to discover wonderful castles, and Giacomo explained us how they have been modified during the course of history.

E
Elena (Trequanda, IT)
Captivating lesson!

I loved this course!
I found it effective and consistent but also captivating.
Giacomo illustrated the history of castles and their main features, how they were used and changed according to the Evolution of medieval warfare.
The timeframe allotted was efficiently managed.

Giacomo is an excellent speaker, and his lecture was clear and engaging. I absolutely recommend him!

K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Good talk by an expert

Good talk by an expert