The origin of Oricola Castle dates back to the 9th century when Rainaldo,
Counts of Marsi, built a fortress along with other towers connected by walls to defend against the incursions of the
Saracens and the
Hungarians. In 1096, the castle passed into the hands of Aldegrina or Aldegrima, daughter of Pandolfo (
Prince of Capua), Countess of Carsoli, and wife of another Rainaldo, a descendant of the founder who died during the
First Crusade. That same year, she donated it to the
Abbey of Montecassino. In 1097, the castle of Auricola (the medieval name of the village) was listed among the properties confirmed by the papal bull of
Pope Urban II to Abbot Oderisio di Montecassino. In 1381, Oricola became a fief of the
Orsini family, and the castle acquired its contemporary configuration thanks to renovations in the mid-15th century. In 1491, it passed to the
Colonna family, but in 1528 the Orsini defeated the Colonna near
Magliano de' Marsi, and the castle was sacked and subsequently returned to Orsini control. In 1557, Oricola and the nearby castles were once again invaded and sacked, this time by the troops of the Duchy of Tagliacozzo and Albe. == Architecture ==