The Swabian Castle in Oria is a wonderful construction built between 1225 and 1233 at the behest of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Over the centuries, it has been inhabited by princes, knights and noblemen. It has a triangular plan and is characterised by three towers called Quadrata (Square), Del cavaliere (of the knight) and Del Salto (Jump): the first one was built during the time of Frederick II, while the other two under the Angevin domination.
According to a local tradition, the foggy atmosphere which shrouds the castle is not just a natural phenomenon, but it recalls something which happened during the construction of the castle, known as Oria Fumosa, foggy Oria. A must-see is the castle at sunset, with an amazing picture-postcard view, which can be admired from any place in the town.
References:The stone church of Gamla Uppsala, built over the pagan temple, dates from the early 12th century. Due to fire and renovations, the present church is only a remnant of the original cathedral.
Before the arrival of Christianity in Sweden, Gamla Uppsala was the seat of Swedish kings and a ceremonial site known all over northern Europe. The settlement was home to royal palaces, a royal burial ground, and a great pagan temple. The Uppsala temple, which was described in detail by Adam of Bremen in the 1070s, housed wooden statues of the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. A golden chain hung across its gables and the inside was richly decorated with gold. The temple had priests, who sacrificed to the gods according to the needs of the people.
The first Christian cathedral was probably built in the 11th century, but finished in the 12th century. The stone building may have been preceded by a wooden church and probably by the large pagan temple.