Castello di Melfi

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The Castello di Melfi

The Castello di Melfi ( Castle of Melfi ) is one of the most important medieval fortresses in southern Italy . It is owned by the Italian state . Its foundation, as far as this can be derived from the remaining remains, goes back to the Norman conquest of southern Italy . The castle has undergone considerable changes over time, especially during the time of the House of Anjou and under the Aragonese Crown .

history

The Norman period

Pope Nicholas II appoints Robert Guiskard as Duke of Apulia and Calabria below the castle during the first council of Melfi .

The castle was built in a strategic position by the Normans at the end of the 12th century . It was on the road between Apulia and Campania . The location was essential for defense as well as a base for the allies. The castle was the scene of historical events during the Norman era.

In Melfi, which was the capital of Contea di Puglia (County of Apulia), five councils took place between 1059 and 1137 under five different pontiffs . In June 1059 Pope Nicholas II signed the Trattato di Melfi there , from August 3rd to 25th he celebrated the First Council of Melfi and finally with the Concordat of Melfi he recognized the conquests of the Normans. The Pope appointed Robert Guiskard Duke of Apulia and Calabria. Melfi was named the capital of the empire. Robert Guiskard exiled his first wife, Alberada de Buonalbergo , to marry Sikelgaita de Salerno .

Other councils were held at the castle: Pope Alexander II presided over the second council of Melfi from August 1, 1067 ; he received the Lombard prince of Salerno, Gisulf II , and the brothers Robert Guiskard and Roger I. During the Third Council of Melfi , Pope Urban II ordered the First Crusade to the " Holy Land ". Pope Paschal II convened the Fourth Council of Melfi in 1101 , and Pope Innocent II convened the fifth and last one in 1137 . In 1130, a council not recognized by the Church took place, which was convened by the antipope Anaclet II , who founded the Kingdom of Sicily .

The period of the Hohenstaufen

After the arrival of the Staufer , Friedrich II attached great importance to the castle and had some work done on it. In 1231 it was the scene of the proclamation of the constitutions of Melfi , a collection of laws of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, in whose drafting, in addition to Frederick II, people such as his notary Petrus de Vinea and the philosopher and mathematician Michael Scotus participated. The castle was also used as a repository for taxes collected in Basilicata and as a prison. Among the various prisoners was the Saracen ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān from Lucera , who was released after paying 50 gold ounces. In 1232 Frederick II hosted the Marchese di Monferrato and his niece Bianca Lancia , who would later become his wife and who gave birth to his son Manfred . In 1241, the Hohenstaufen king had two cardinals and several French and German bishops arrested in the building complex, who presumably wanted to take part in a papal council that provided for his removal.

The Period of the House of Anjou and the Sections that follow

With the decline of the Hohenstaufen and the rise of the new rulers of the House of Anjou, the castello was greatly expanded and renewed. In addition, it was chosen by Charles II as the official residence of his wife Maria of Hungary in 1284 . In the 16th century it was changed under the Aragonese rule and then successively owned by the Acciaiuoli , the Marzano, the Caracciolo and finally the Doria , who owned it until 1950. The castle was hit by two major earthquakes in 1851 and 1930, which, unlike many buildings in Melfi, which were badly damaged, survived virtually undamaged. Today the building houses the Museo archeologico nazionale del Melfese, inaugurated in 1976 .

structure

Castle interior

Melfi Castle has undergone numerous changes over time and today shows an architecture that combines several styles. Its medieval character has been preserved. It is characterized by ten towers, seven of which are rectangular and three are five-sided:

  • Torre dell'Ingresso (entrance tower)
  • Torre dello Stendardo o dei Cipressi (Flag Tower or Tower of the Cypress Trees)
  • Torre della Secretaria o Della Terrazza (Administration Tower or Tower of the Terrace)
  • Torre del Baluardo del Leone (Tower of the Lion Wall)
  • Torre dell'Imperatore o dei Sette Venti (Tower of the Emperor or Tower of the Seven Winds)
  • Torre senza nome, restano solo i ruderi (nameless tower, of which only ruins remain)
  • Torre di Nord Est o Torrita Parvula (Northeast Tower or Parvula Tower)
  • Torre delle Carceri o di Marcangione (Dungeon Tower or Marcangione Tower)
  • Torre della Chiesa (church tower)
  • Torre dell'Orologio (clock tower)

The Castello di Melfi has four entrances, only one of which is usable today. The first, located in the northeast near the Torre Parvula, offered direct access to the surrounding farmland and is now walled up. The second is also walled up and is located near the Torre della Chiesa. The third, main entrance at the time of the Anjou, is located in the southwest at the Torre del Baluardo del Leone and allowed access to the moat and the city. The only access still usable was created by the Doria and used to be a drawbridge. The interior of the castle was transformed into a palace by the Doria between the 17th and 19th centuries, but it has retained some features of the Norman-Staufer style.

At this gate, which is still accessible today, there is an eighth-century portal with inscriptions commemorating the deeds of Charles V and Andrea Doria . Behind it is a courtyard from which the stables and two other courtyards, dello Stallaggio e del Mortorio , can be reached. All of these were created under the Anjou on the orders of Charles II between 1278 and 1281. Also in the Anjou style are the Sala del Trono (Throne Room), which houses the museum and is located on the north side, and the Sala degli Armigeri below . Also worth mentioning is the Sala delle Scodelle (Shell Hall), where the Costituzioni di Melfi were proclaimed.

  • The fort

  • Driveway

  • exhibition

literature

Web links

Commons : Castello di Melfi  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 40 ° 59 ′ 53.8 "  N , 15 ° 39 ′ 9.9"  E