Castra Marriză

Castra Marriză
Castra Marriză
General information
Type	Castrum (castle/palace)
Architectural style	Romance, Romano-Gothic
Location	Cerrazzanum, Ranaella Province
Completed	1333
Owner	The Imperium (1958-present) ; Osvale Estate (1621-1958)
Technical details
Floor area	39,000 m²
Grounds	55,000 m²

Castra Marriză is a fortress complex located outside of the ruins of Old Cerrazzanum in Ranaella Province, Caphiria. Since its completion in 1333, the complex has been owned by many of Caphiria's wealthy and elite. In the 17th century, Pope Osvale II seized control of Castra Marriză for his summer residence. The Osvale Estate maintained control of the complex until 1958 when it was donated to the Imperium and today serves as a popular tourist and vacation attraction.

The construction of the complex was ordered by Imperator Zenoristore VIII in 1333, who wanted to have a summer palace "fit for the Pienduccos", a pair of centaurine sea-gods with the upper bodies of men, the lower fore-parts of horses, ending in the serpentine tails of fish. The result is a complex with a sober character in its exterior and splendid interior, with magnificent gardens and courtyards that maintain a Sastelongra inspiration.

History

The complex

The palace complex itself covers a large area of about 39,000 square meters, situated to the southwest of the ruins of Old Cerrazzanum. When it was first constructed, the complex was surrounded by 50-foot walls, but they were destroyed in 1721.

The complex features two main gates: portam ferream (Iron Gates) and portam flumen (Gates at the River). The portam flumen was the southern gate, facing the river, and was the main gate of the palace. It was fronted by a public square where executions and triumphs took place. The entrance included a balcony or platform (called a falere) from which Pope Osvale II could observe the events. The heads of executed enemies were also displayed, and a prison stood nearby. The "Iron Gates" (portam ferream), located to the north, was supposedly named because its door knockers were notably looted from one of the gates of Teritucán, an ancient city in what is now modern Cartadania.

There were at least three additional gates: porta paradisi (Gate of the Gardens), portam civitatis (Gate of the Town), and porta caeli (Gate of Heavens). The porta paradisi was another southern gate, above which a reception pavilion was built which gave views over the river. Portam civitatis was a small western gate that led into a nearby town, and porta caeli led into the Cathedral of Cerrazzanum.

The internal layout is very elaborate and was designed to function as a self-contained political base of operations. There are numerous structures and pavilions which can house the residences of the owner as well as the offices for administration. Other notable buildings included the Osvalian Baths and a famous library, both created by Sebastóbal Álvarício Medenelán. The baths are located in the northwest area of the palace complex, near the private apartments. Other service-oriented structures and regions are also located near here.

Towers

Four 80-meter-tall towers surround the outdoor area of Castra Marriză: Turre Tempus (Tower of the Clock), Turris Carapirino (Carapirino's Tower), Turris Leonum (Tower of Lions), and Turris Illa (Tower of the Dove).

Tower of the Clock
Tower of the Lions
Carapirino's Tower
Tower of the Dove (left)

Tower of the Clock (Turre Tempus), of octagonal shape, is situated in the Northeast corner, owing its name to the clock previously housed within. The interior has Gothic features including an ogival ceiling.
Tower of the Lions (Turris Leonum), of square shape, is situated in the Northwest corner. The door to the base of this tower is currently used as the visitor entrance to Castra Marriză. It is the longest-standing tower, dating back to the 13th century, and is named after gargoyles in the shape of lions which are found on the uppermost section of the tower. Within the tower, there are two floors; the ground floor, where the reception can be located, and the upper level, which accommodates the Chapel of Márcisco Costila Sérginés Atencavali.
Carapirino's Tower (Turris Carapirino), circular shape, is situated in the Southwest corner. It receives its name from the fact that the 17th-century artist Efrancio Álvador Carapirino would frequently spend time and create some of his most seminal works here.
Tower of the Dove (Turris Illa), of square shape, is situated in the Southeast corner. The original tower was demolished in the mid-19th century, and the current tower is a reconstruction that dates back to the second half of the 20th century.

Hall of Mosaics

The main hall of the building, constructed in the 18th century, is referred to as the “Hall of Mosaics,” given the impressive Mosaics that can be found within the hall. The mosaics on show were discovered at the Cerrazzanum Square towards the end of the 1950s and formed part of the Latin Circus, as well as a sarcophagus from the 3rd century. The hall is currently a highly sought-after civil marriage location by many Caphiro-Cartadanians.

Courtyard of the Gonçalva

The courtyard of the Gonçalva is situated on the western side of the Castrum. Taking on a square floor plan, it is surrounded by arched verandas except for its western face. The western face of the patio is where the wall that connects the Tower of the Lions and Carapirino's Tower is found, and the Gardens of the Pienduccos can be accessed. The patio is centered by a water fountain that sits in-between two ponds.

Courtyard of the Women

The courtyard of the Women, also known as the eastern courtyard, is situated on the eastern side of the Castrum. It owes its name to the era during which Castra Marriză was used as a prison, with this courtyard where the feminine section of the prison was located. Many archaeological remains from the different constructive phases of Castra Marriză re-found in this courtyard, as well as remains of former buildings.

Reception Hall

The reception hall, also known as the Ocean Hall, is a room of square plan which is situated beside the Hall of Mosaics. Encrusted in one of the walls is a Latin mosaic dedicated to the God Oceanus. Also within the hall are some seats of honor of the ancient chapter choir, which date back to the 17th century.

Royal Baths of Marisoleta Guzmánzar

The Royal Baths were constructed in 1333 by Zenoristore VIII. They were structured underground into four rooms: the changing room, the cold room, the temperate room, and the hot room. They owe their name to Marisoleta Guzmánzar, Zenoristore VIII's mistress, in whose honor the Royal Baths were constructed.

Gardens of the Pienduccos

A set of gardens and orchards have existed in this area since at least the 10th century when Aelicinian III constructed an aqueduct to bring water from the nearby river waterwheel. The gardens have been neglected or renewed at various times since then. In the late 15th century or at the beginning of the 16th century Pope Mascelecius II ordered the waterwheel to be halted, and they went into a general decline. The current gardens date from a significant remodeling around the mid-20th century, while at the same time, the area of the gardens was reduced in size due to the construction of a road on its southeast side.

Today the gardens consist of an impressive area of approximately 55,000m² of magnificent gardens with forest species, including palm, cypress, orange, and lemon trees, which surround several elegant fountains and ponds. The gardens are structured on three levels: the Higher Garden, the Middle Garden, and the Lower Garden. The Higher Garden is between the Tower of the Lions and the Royal Marisoleta Stables (Marisoletaum Regiis Hortis). The Middle Garden is located on its southeast side and stretches along the castle wall that separates the gardens from the Courtyard of the Gonçalva. It is reached from a grand staircase and includes two large pools. The Lower Garden occupies a much larger area to the southeast, including three elongated pools lined with flowers and trees and other manicured gardens beyond. The Lower Garden also includes Zenoristore's Avenue, an avenue bordered by lines of cylindrical cypress trees and divided into two paths by two narrow ponds. On this walk, several sculptures of the Imperators who built Castra Marriză, are located on pedestals aligned between the hedges.