The History of Castillo Rospigliosi (Rospigliosi Castle)
The city of Lima can be considered both a modern city as well as an old colonial city, but did you know it is also host to it´s very own medieval castle! Until recently I had no idea that Lima had a medieval castle, well ok it´s not officially medieval since it was built in 1929 but it can be considered a very impressive representation of one. So how does a turn of the century spanish colonial city come about the idea to build a medieval style castle? The answer is as old as the castle´s history.
Situated in the heart of the urbanized district of Lince at the intersection of Av. Montero Rosas and Av. Manuel Ascencio Seguro, just a few blows from Av. Petit Thouars sits the almost century old castle. The castle takes up an entire block and is hard to miss when driving by it, though well concealed in the vast urban sprawl of Lima. The exquisite castle is embellished with all the recognizable features characteristic of a medieval castle, from it´s multiple turrets to very large drawbridge in it´s entrance. The history of the castle rests on the shoulders of the distinguished, Dr. Carlos J. Rospigliosi Vigil. Dr. Rospigliosi a doctor who specialized in the field of natural sciences and medicine and widely recognized for his works in scientific investigation was also a filthy rich millionaire. It was through news of a visit to Lima by the king of Spain, king Alfonso XIII, (of whom which Rospigliosi maintained a good long standing friendship with) that Rospigliosi enthusiastically set out to welcome the king with the construction of a castle. The task of building a large castle in the city of Lima was not a usual one and was one that met with certain difficulties and opposition during it´s constuction in the late 1920´s.
The castle was intended to be presented as a gift to king Alfonso XIII upon his arrival but destiny had other plans for the castle´s fate. Rospigliosi working hard on the castles construction came across certain building restrictions when he filled with the local municipality to grant him permission to dig a moat around the perimeter of the castle which would in turn serve the function of the installed drawbridge entrance (which was to be the icing on the cake if you will). Unfortunately for Rospigliosi the municipality more than likely having had enough with the elaborate conception of a medieval castle in district denied the grant for a moat, seeing it as excessive.
To make matters worse than they already were, when the construction of the castle was finally completed news of a Spanish revolution was announced with king Alfonso XIII and the Republic overturned. The fall of the Spanish Monarchy led to the inevitable and for obvious reasons cancellation of the king´s scheduled trip to Peru. When Rospigliosi received word on the situation in Spain he decided it was time to cut his loses and fold the cards he had held is hand, seeing no other options for this newly constructed castle Rospigliosi took the only decision he had left and used the castle as his new residence where he and his family resided there after. The castle from that moment on was known as Rospigliosi Castle or Castillo Rospigliosi.
Today the castle is the under the ownership of the Peruvian Airforce (FAP = Fuerzas Aereas del Peru) and is the site of the Airforce´s Escuela Superior de Guerra Aérea or Superior School of Air Warfare.
Here is a link to their site: http://www.fap.mil.pe/instruccion/esfap/nosotros/nosotros.html
