Fortified farmhouses and rural settlements in the medieval Campagna Romana: The Case of the Casale della Spizzichina

The Casale della Spizzichina, located in the northern area of the roman countryside (Campagna Romana), offers a significant example of a medieval fortified farmhouse. This study examines the architectural, morphological, and functional features of the complex, situating it within the broader dynamics of rural settlement in medieval Rome’s hinterland. The casale, with its tower dating to the 11th century and surrounding buildings from the 12th–13th centuries, exemplifies the integration of defensive, residential, and agricultural functions in a compact and organized layout. Historical and cartographic sources, combined with direct observation of the remains, allow a reconstruction of the site’s original arrangement and the evolution of its structures over time. The Casale della Spizzichina also represents one element within a network of rural fortified settlements that controlled both agricultural territories and key communication routes. By highlighting its role in local economic and territorial organization, this study contributes to a better understanding of incasalamento in the Campagna Romana and provides a reference for comparative analysis of similar medieval rural settlements.