Kamerlengo Castle

The Kamerlengo Castle, in Trogir

The Kamerlengo Castle is a powerful Venetian fortress of the fifteenth century, with limestone walls and a high polygonal tower, that dominates the port of Trogir. The Trogir audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this citadel raised after the conquest of the city by Venice, former residence of the governor, whose courtyard and chapel of Saint Mark today host concerts and summer shows.

History

With its limestone walls and its high polygonal tower, the Kamerlengo Castle still today dominates the port and the promenade. This fortress was built in the fifteenth century by the Venetians, shortly after their conquest of Trogir. The city had resisted, and its defences had suffered; to assert their power, the Venetians decided to raise here a citadel capable of watching the city and the sea. The name of Kamerlengo comes from the "camerlengo", the Venetian governor-administrator who resided there. By crossing its gates, you discover a vast interior courtyard, that once served as a barracks for the mercenaries, with a small chapel dedicated to Saint Mark, patron of Venice. On the walls, the reliefs of the winged lion recalled the authority of the Serenissima, alongside the coats of arms of the great Venetian families. At the time, the castle was surrounded by a water-filled moat and linked by the ramparts to the tower of Saint Mark, on the other side of the city, forming a formidable defensive system. Today without military role, the fortress continues to live: its courtyard hosts concerts and summer shows, and its ramparts offer a fine view.

What to see

Here you visit a powerful Venetian fortress of the fifteenth century, with limestone walls and a high polygonal tower, raised after the conquest of Trogir by Venice; its courtyard, former barracks endowed with a chapel of Saint Mark, today hosts concerts and summer shows, and its ramparts offer a fine view. The Kamerlengo Castle dominates the port of Trogir. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Kamerlengo Castle stands at the western extremity of the old town of Trogir, dominating the port, reachable on foot. The access is generally paying and the hours vary according to the season; concerts and shows are held there in summer. It is best to enquire before coming.

Who built the Kamerlengo Castle of Trogir?

The Venetians raised it in the fifteenth century, shortly after their conquest of Trogir, to assert their power and watch the city and the sea; its name comes from the "camerlengo", the Venetian governor who resided there. Endowed with a courtyard-barracks, a chapel of Saint Mark and linked to the tower of Saint Mark, it formed a formidable defensive system, and today hosts concerts and shows.

Where is the Kamerlengo Castle in Trogir?

At the western extremity of the old town of Trogir, dominating the port, in Croatia.