 In 1559, the complex was sold by Pope Pius IV to Cardinal Cristoforo Madruzzo, to his brother Nicola and to his nephew Fortunato.Twenty years later, Fortunato's brother in law, Cardinal Marco Sittico Altemps, bought the estate and ordered the construction of his palace, but at the end of the sixteenth century the territory was finally delivered into the hands of the Apostolic Chamber, who worked on it for many years to come.In 1929 the town of Bassano, weak and small, was combined to Orte and became independent again only in 1958.