Santorio’s father, Antonio Santori, came from Spilimbergo (near Pordenone, Friuli). He arrived in Koper in 1548, when he accepted the post of master of artillery. The most prominent landmark of his hometown is Spilimbergo Castle, built by the German family of Spengenberg, who settled in Friuli around the 11th century to guard one of the main navigation routes along the River Tagliamento. The town itself took its name from the Lords of Spilimbergo.
Above the castle courtyard rise magnificent buildings in a harmonious blend of styles, from Romanesque through Gothic to Venetian Renaissance. Among them is the Palazzo Dipinto (“Painted Palace”) from the 15th century, with beautiful Gothic and Renaissance triple-lancet windows and a frescoed façade, probably the work of Andrea Bellunello, who was active here between 1469 and 1475.
Of the original medieval fortress, two towers and short sections of the walls are still preserved. The castle, however, was repeatedly damaged and rebuilt. After being damaged in an earthquake, it was also set on fire during the revolt of 1511; its southern wing was never rebuilt, leaving only the Painted Palace intact. Today, the castle is partly privately owned (a restaurant also operates within it) and partly the property of the municipality.
