Castello Normanno-Svevo, Bari
Bari's Norman-Swabian Castle or Castello Normanno-Svevo is one of the most attractive medieval fortifications, definitely a symbol of the city in which it is located. It is situated in the Old Town, near the Cathedral Square. You can see the castle in all its glory only from the outside, as only the courtyard and some rooms are accessible to tourists from the inside. Today the fortress is a historical museum, which hosts exhibitions, expositions and cultural events.
Castle architecture
The castle is a monumental building consisting of two rows of massive fortress walls that rise above the ancient defensive moat. One wall is washed by the sea from the north side. A stone bridge leads to the castle from the south side of the moat, through which you can get into the courtyard, and inside there are bastions and four corner guard towers that were used to attack the enemies.
The structure surrounds the courtyard of the castle in the form of a trapeze. There is a portal with a pointed arch in the western wall that leads to the balcony.
History of the Castello Normanno-Svevo
In 1132, the construction of the fortress began at the insistence of King Roger II. During the excavation, it was hypothesized that part of the wall was built in the Byzantine era. In 1156, the castle was besieged by the Sicilian King William I Angry, as a result, the castle was very badly damaged, and only in 1233 Frederick II of Swabia, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, was able to restore the fortress. The castle became more like a villa, the entrance and courtyard were decorated, the towers were decorated with windows and round openings, and another entrance was built. Charles d'Anjou built an entrance from the side of the sea.
A little later, the castle was owned by the famous Italian Sforza family. It was presented to them by the Duke Ferdinand of Aragon. At that time, the beautification of the fortress began: the external bastions were built in the shape of a spear, a staircase was added in the courtyard and the outer wall was strengthened from the north. Isabella of Aragon, the duchess of Bari from 1501 to 1524, and her daughter, Bona Sforza, did everything possible to turn the castle into a royal residence. In 1557, when Bona Sforza died, the castle was given to the Kingdom of Naples. Then it was turned into a prison and barracks for city guards.
Nowadays, Castello Normanno-Svevo has been reconstructed and is listed as one of the most frequently visited tourist sites in the region.
What can be seen inside
- Art gallery with the exhibitions.
- The collection of plaster casts - copies of the Romanesque details of various churches in Puglia
- Finds from the excavations of the Byzantine part of the castle – ceramic, stone, jewelry, textiles and coins.
- Swabian Hall with preserved capitals.
How to get there
Castello Normanno-Svevo in the town of Bari is located on Piazza Federico II di Svevia. It takes about 20 minutes on foot from the central railway station of Bari Centrale to the castle, along Via Sparano da Bari or Via Roberto da Bari which is parallel to it.
Opening hours: from Wednesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:30, on Monday to 18:30. It is closed on Tuesday.
Admission: ticket costs 9 euros. Data on the admission price and opening hours may vary.
