Castels
Castels
By: Redazione CartApuliaOur journey among the castles of the Region starts from the Gargano, where we admire the castle of Manfredonia with its characteristic Aragonese circular ramparts and the 16th century pentagonal ones. Dating back to the Norman period but modified in Swabian times, the castle of Barletta celebrates the political power of Emperor Frederick II. A power which was later affirmed thanks to the construction of Castel del Monte with its plan and octagonal towers. Besides, we can admire the most relevant fortification of the Apulian capital, dating back to Frederick's age, too: it is the Swabian Castle of Bari. Proceeding on the Ionian coast, we reach Taranto, where the Aragonese Castle or Sant'Angelo stands. The castle of Oria testifyies how castles underwent various changes over the centuries: the ancient early medieval structure was modified in the Frederick's age and then enlarged between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries to adapt it to the new defensive needs. In the heart of Salento, in the centre of Lecce, we can admire the Castle Carlo V, in honour of the emperor, while facing the sea we find the castle of Gallipoli, destroyed during a siege and then rebuilt in the Angevin age.