The “Ugo Granafei” Civic Museum was established in 1935 with a private donation from the Granafei family, which was part of the eponymous Popular Library. Later it was enriched with materials from other donations, chance findings, and excavation campaigns which, since the 1970s, have brought to light important extra-urban sites such as Muro Maurizio, Malvindi, and Muro Tenente. Initially set up in the Municipal Palace, the museum has been housed since 1999 in a ground floor wing of the Norman-Swabian castle at the site of the eponymous “Ugo Granafei” library. The Castle presumably existed during the Byzantine period (11th century), but the construction of a Castrum Medianum is only documented in 1062, the year of the Norman invasion. In 1195, the castrum of Mesagne was donated to the Teutonic Knights. In the 16th century, the oldest part of the castle, which was dangerous, was demolished and replaced by the still-existing tower, which preserves part of the defense works and is equipped with a drawbridge. The remaining core of the castle is more recent. After a dark period of near-total abandonment, it was purchased in 1973 by the Municipal Administration and following extensive restoration work, it has become a center of tourist and cultural attraction.
Information on Ugo Granafei Territorial Museum of Mesagne
Via Castello, 5
72023 Mesagne (Brindisi)
0831776065 Mrs. Emanuela Micaletto
cultura@comune.mesagne.br.it
https://www.comune.mesagne.br.it
Source: MIBACT
