Monte Sant'Angelo Castle

Monte Sant'Angelo, Italy

Probably built in 837 by Orso I, the  Monte Sant'Angelo Castle has bastions of different ages. The most ancient part, called Torre dei Giganti ('Giants' Tower') is a pentagonal tower 18 m-high, with walls 3.7 m thick. The first documents on its history dates back to 979; later, it was the residence of Rainulf I of Aversa and the Robert Guiscard, who built the Norman Tower and the Treasure Hall.

Emperor Frederick II restored the construction to use it as residence for his mistress Bianca Lancia, while under the Angevines it was used mainly as prison. Later, from 1464 to 1485, the fortress was the residence of the exiled Albanian condottiero Skanderbeg. The castle was largely rebuilt in the late 15th century by Ferdinand I. According to a legend, the castle is currently home to the ghost of Bianca Lancia, whose sighs can be heard especially in the winter time. Today the castle is used for exhibitions.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 837 AD
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Philippe Guittard (2 years ago)
Lots of things to see inside and outside (beautiful view of the surroundings). Well selected ambiant music in many rooms. Very cheap compared to other sites.
Agnieszka Nosowska (2 years ago)
A must-see in Monte Sant’Angelo! Historical monument with amazing views of both mountains and the sea. Entrance is only 2€, worth every penny!
Corina Pickering (2 years ago)
This is a very beautiful castle to walk around and learn about its interesting history. There are also great views from many different spots around it! I recommend checking out all the random doors and going through all the little tunnels.
Nick Pribus (3 years ago)
Like many things in Italy, closed midday so we could not visit, but walked around the outside and enjoyed feeling the history
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Sé Catedral (Cathedral of Lisbon)

The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major, often called Lisbon Cathedral or simply the Sé, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Lisbon, Portugal. The oldest church in the city, it is the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. The cathedral has survived many earthquakes and has been modified, renovated and restored several times. It is nowadays a mix of different architectural styles. 

The site where it stands was the principal mosque of Lisbon when it was an Arab settlement. The construction of the cathedral started around 1150, three years after the city was conquered from the Moors during the Second Crusade. Shortly after the victory the English knight Gilbert of Hastings was named bishop of the city of Lisbon.

One good reason to visit the Cathedral is to visit its charming cloisters located in the back. There are several tombs in the cathedral, the most notable of which is the beautifully sculpted tomb of Lopo Fernandes Pacheco and his wife.