Castello di Serravalle (Castle) (Semione)

The origins of Castello di Serravalle are not fully clear. The castle was first documented in 1176 when Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa besieged and captured it as part of his Italian policy. After Barbarossa's defeat at Legnano in the same year, the castle reverted to the Milan Cathedral Chapter. In the 13th century, the Castello was expanded by the Orelli, who took over power in the valley after the Torre, and from 1235 served as the center of power in the Blenio Valley. Later, ownership passed to the Visconti of Oleggio, who acquired the Orelli's rights in 1335. In 1356, the castle changed hands to the Pepoli from Bologna. Due to difficulties with the local population and a general uprising in 1402, Castello di Serravalle was destroyed and Taddeo Pepoli was killed. The Dukes of Milan, who subsequently took over, refrained from rebuilding it.

The Castello di Serravalle ruin is located in Semione in the Blenio district, in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland, at an altitude of approximately 407 m above sea level.

Today, the imposing ruin can be visited. It is divided into a main castle and an outer bailey. The outer bailey in the south comprises an elongated terrace with preserved remains of the curtain wall and a chapel S. Maria del Castello. A narrow path leads to the higher-lying main castle, which features a courtyard, a core castle complex, and a mighty round keep with two-meter-thick walls. Excavation and restoration work was carried out between 1928 and 1930.

• Ruine Castello Dongio (castle), approx. 3.0 km away
• Torre di Lorenzanes (Corzoneso) (castle), approx. 4.5 km away
• Palazzo del Pretorio (Lottigna) (residence), approx. 6.7 km away
• Ruine Santa Maria di Castello (castle), approx. 7.9 km away