The first reports of a fortress in Genazzano date back to the 11th century;while in 1257 the castle was owned by Pietro Colonna;whose family was to dominate the area until very recently.Over the centuries the castle has undergone various transformations:in the 15th century in particular;the new royal palace was built;an architectural prototype of note in the humanities;although its actual appearance is the same as it had in the 17th century.Today;the structure is home to an international centre for contemporary art and hosts numerous events;continuing the tradition that began in the 1950s with the Genazzano Prize for painting.The castle houses nearly 200 works acquired as a result of different editions of the prize between 1953 and 1972 with the participation of both newcomers and artists with already solid reputations.Worthy of note are works by Antonietta Raphael and Francesco Trombadori;representatives of the Roman School;Ugo Attardi;Renzo Vespignani;Ennio Calabria;Domenico Purificato;Ernesto Treccani and a section devoted to local painter Scipione Vannutelli.