The Aragonese Castle was built by the Normans around 1054 purely as a defensive fortress and became the residence of the Acquaviva Counts, later transformed through successive renovations into an opulent noble residence.
The fort was erected on ancient megalithic walls, dating back to the 6th-4th century BC, still visible at the base of the Master Tower, the only Norman tower that has survived. The overall structure has a trapezoidal plan with the four corners oriented towards the cardinal points. Four towers stand at the four corners: 1. the Master Tower or Norman tower, about 25 meters high, is built with regular limestone blocks composing the walls (started in the 11th century by the first Count of Conversano Goffredo Altavilla the Norman); 2. a tower similar to the Master Tower but smaller in size, whose walls feature beautiful Gothic windows and on the terrace a belvedere adorned with arches.
From the 15th century, the county of Conversano was ruled by the Acquaviva family, who transformed the ancient fortress into a princely residence and reinforced some defensive elements. During this period Giulio Antonio Acquaviva built 3. the cylindrical tower, now a symbol of Conversano, replacing one of the castle’s four quadrangular towers. The crenellations at the top indicate that the tower was later remodeled; 4. the polygonal tower, which was built by Andrea Matteo Acquaviva, son of Giulio Antonio. The tower has a characteristic batter shape, with walls slightly inclined to absorb artillery strikes. The terrace features crenellations adapted for cannon openings, while narrow loopholes along the sides of the polygon allowed positioning of ammunition. Today the tower is partially buried, but it once was surrounded by a defensive moat. The windows and balconies on the facade facing Piazza Castello date back to the 1800s.
Next to this polygonal tower was the original drawbridge, which allowed crossing the surrounding moat before the castle was enhanced with the current monumental entrance on the southwest side.
The Castle houses the municipal Art Gallery, where 17th-century canvases from Finoglio’s “Jerusalem Delivered” cycle are displayed.
Inside the Castle, besides the Finoglio Art Gallery, on the 2nd floor is the Francesco Netti Art Gallery and the historic costume exhibition titled “Weddings at the Castle”. Moreover, the castle has space for temporary exhibitions and a conference room also located on the 2nd floor.
Notes: Disabled entrance from Conciliazione Square
Information about Conversano Castle
Corso Domenico Morea
85025 Conversano (Bari)
0804958525
proloco.conversano@libero.it
Source: MIBACT
