Melfi Castle

A castle of Norman origin, associated with Frederick II of Swabia. Today it houses the ‘Massimo Pallottino’ National Archaeological Museum of the Melfi Area.

Melfi Castle, in Basilicata, overlooks the historic centre and the surrounding valley from above. Its origins date back to the Norman period in the 11th century, and over the centuries it was extended and altered by the Swabians, the Angevins and the Aragonese. Its imposing structure, with towers, courtyards and mighty walls, bears witness to the strategic role it played in the history of Southern Italy.

It was here that Frederick II promulgated the Constitutions of Melfi in 1231, an important code of laws for the Kingdom of Sicily. Today, the castle houses the National Archaeological Museum of Melfi, where artefacts illustrating the history of the region are on display. It is an evocative place, where the architecture and landscape convey the charm of centuries of history.

Photo: Parisma62, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Melfi_4.jpg