Palazzo Rosso (pah-laht-zoh roh-soh)
The Palazzo Rosso, also known as the Claret Palace, is the home of the Doge of Tralizza and is one of the most impressive buildings in the burgeoning and thriving city of Alloro. Its name comes from its walls and roof tiles, all of which are various shades of red that can be seen from miles away. The walls are made of sunset red granite, which was sourced from a quarry in the mountains near Fiumezzo and hauled to the capital city at the time of the palace's construction. The roof tiles are ceramic but are finished with a dazzling, almost shimmering red glaze resembling faint rubies. When the late evening or early morning sun hits the roof tiles, they seem to sparkle and glitter like gemstones, further awing anyone who might be out and in view of the palace.
The Palazzo is situated on the highest hill in the city of Alloro, more than two miles inland. The hill rises more than 200 feet above the city and its canals, with very few other elevated areas in the area. The hill itself has almost entirely sheer walls, making it almost impossible to scale. There are two entrances to the royal district found on the hilltop, both on the eastern side of the hill where the natural land rise makes the height gap a bit more manageable. The first is a gatehouse that is manned by armed and trained guards, which spans the road that leads into the district and is responsible for foot and cart traffic coming and going from the district. The other entrance is an exclusive canal that can only be accessed by passing though a heavily guarded gatehouse not too far off the central river and then navigating a series of locks to move the ship/boat up to the level of the hilltop.
The grounds of the Palazzo Rosso feature wonderful gardens and walkways, a large stable complex for the Doge's horses, and several whole wings for guests. The complex also sits amongst other luxurious manors belonging to the nation's wealthiest and most influential noble families. These opulent houses were designed and built at the same time as the palace, so the Doge could make sure none of the "lower" houses would outshine his treasure. The surrounding buildings feature blue or teal accents, making them very beautiful up close but harder to see from a distance against the sky. The Doge and the architect that built the palace compound wanted the Palazzo Rosso to be the only thing people saw from afar. To many in Alloro and broader Tralizza, the Claret Palace represents the beauty and majesty of their entire kingdom, showing off the success and prosperity the nation has enjoyed for several centuries.
Purpose / Function
The palace complex on the towering hill is home to the Doge and their family, as well as the various noble families and advisors with high positions in Allorese society. Not only is the Palazzo Rosso the home of the royal family, it also houses the functional working chambers from which the city and nation are administered. The palace also includes a vast array of suites and wings to house guests such as traveling family, important nobles from elsewhere in the kingdom, or distinguished individuals from foreign nations. Its original construction included plans for all of these different areas, and the only changes to the building in the centuries since its construction have been purely interior cosmetics as new rulers move in and want to redo things in their style or colors.
Architecture
The palace is built in the style of late German castles, similar to those completed or begun under the rule of King Ludwig II. While not as towering and grandiose as Neuschwanstein, the Palazzo Rosso boasts smooth stone walls and a sloped tiled roof, though of glimmering red tiles instead of slate-colored material. These roof tiles - along with the sunset red granite of the walls - are the source of the palace's name, as the shade of red produced is evident from miles around the palace, especially as it glints in the sunlight. The architectural layout of the castle is similar to most Medieval palaces, having several connected or semi-connected wings and halls with a large inner courtyard filled with flowers, gazebos, statuary, and fountains.
Defenses
The palace has no defenses itself, relying mainly on the sheer walls of its tall hill to prevent incursion or attack. The eastern side of the hill which meets the rest of the city features a twenty-foot thick stone wall and a guardhouse that is manned by highly trained guards at all times. This single gatehouse controls access to the royal district and features both a helical staircase and a hand-crank elevator to scale the altitude difference between the lower city and the higher hill on which the palace complex sits. The single canal that exists within the royal district is also tightly guarded and can only be reached from the main city waterways by passing through a canal gatehouse and then navigating a series of locks to bring the boats up to the level of the hilltop.
Comments