All Castles in Apulia

Castello Svevo (Swabian Castle) is a spectacular castle in Trani, located near the sea, not far from the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino. The castle is known for its historical and cultural value and is also a popular tourist destination. In 2011, it was the third most visited state museum in Apulia, with a total of almost 50,000 visitors.   SHORT HISTORY OF CASTELLO SVEVO Before the current castle, Trani had already a fortification, whose exact location is unknown, built on the initiative of the Norman King Roger II, and destroyed in 1137. The construction of the Swabian Castle was begun in 1233 by order of the Emperor Frederick II, and the works were completed in 1249, according to the project of Filippo Cinardo, count of Acquaviva and Conversano. The castle was built on a rock located in the center of the Trani harbor, in a shallow water area, which protected it from possible attacks from the sea. On the top of one of the towers overlooking the sea, Frederick II had Pietro Tiepolo, son of the Doge of Venice Jacopo Tiepolo, hanged. Pietro, podestà of Milan, was taken prisoner in the Battle of Cortenuova in 1237. Frederick’s son, Manfred, Read more [...]

Castello di Carlo V (Castle of Charles V), is a sixteenth-century coastal fortress located in Monopoli, in the Apulia region of southern Italy. It was built during the period of Spanish domination as part of a broader defensive strategy aimed at protecting the Adriatic coastline from maritime threats, particularly Ottoman incursions and pirate raids. The castle occupies a strategic position within the historic center of Monopoli, standing on a rocky promontory known as Punta Pinna. This elevated and naturally defensive site overlooks the Old Port (Porto Vecchio), and commands a wide view over the surrounding sea. Castello di Carlo V represents one of the most important examples of Spanish military architecture in Apulia. Over the centuries, the fortress underwent several functional transformations, evolving from a strictly defensive structure into a residential building, then a prison, and finally a restored cultural venue. Today, the castle remains one of the most recognizable landmarks of Monopoli and a key element of the city’s historical and architectural heritage.   Short History of Castello di Carlo V The construction of Castello di Carlo V dates back to the first half of the 16th century, during the reign of Emperor Charles V, who ruled over a Read more [...]

Fortino di Sant’Antonio Abate is a fort located on the eastern edge of the Bari Vecchia, the historical center of Bari, in front of the Pier of Sant’Antonio.   SHORT HISTORY The fort was built for defensive purposes in 1440 on the remains of a tower from 1359. The fort was erected by the Prince of Taranto, Giovanni Antonio del Balzo Orsini, who left his coat of arms on the portal. After the death of the feudal lord, the fort was destroyed by the people of Bari, and then rebuilt between 1501 and 1524 by Isabella of Aragon, Duchess of Milan, and Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland, as part of the renewal of the defensive system of the city. Later, the fort was demilitarized and, in 1847, it was taken over by the Municipality. During the following years, the structure was neglected and continued to deteriorate, falling into a state of semi-ruin. The fort was later definitively restored by the Municipality, and today it can be admired in all its splendour. Its spaces are currently used for cultural events.   ART A graceful wooden statue of the Saint Anthony the Abbot, also known as Saint Anthony the Great, to whom Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Castello Normanno-Svevo (Norman-Swabian Castle) is an imposing fortress in Bari, located on the western edge of the Bari Vecchia (Old Bari), the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY The medieval fortification dates back to 1132. The castle was built at the behest of the Norman King Roger II, and was destroyed in 1156 by King William of Sicily, nicknamed the Bad, when he razed the entire city to the ground, except for some places of worship. The fortress was rebuilt in 1233, when the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II ordered its reinforcement. The castle underwent numerous transformations in the Angevin period, when Charles of Anjou carried out an extensive restoration involving the north wing of the castle, under the guidance of the architects Pietro d’Angicourt and Giovanni di Toul. Then, the castle became property of Duke Ferdinand of Aragon, who donated it later to the ducal Sforza family. The latter disposed the enlargement of the fortress, which shortly after passed into the hands of Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland, who died there in 1557. During this time, the castle underwent radical transformations to adapt to the new demands dictated by the development of heavy Read more [...]