Di origine prerromana, Sessa Aurunca still preserves many historical testimonies that allow a reconstruction of its past. Many peoples have dominated it (Lombards, Normans, Angevins, Aragonese), leaving traces of their presence. The Ducal Castle is a clear example. Built in the 10th century, it was conceived as a place of defense but also as a palatium, where the official activities of the court took place. With Frederick II of Swabia, the complex was consolidated and expanded with the addition of quadrangular towers. The transformations continued with the Angevins, of whom the extraordinary loggia of the hanging garden remains, and with the Marzano family in the 14th century, who embellished the structure with frescoes and architectural decorations of castle taste, such as portals, arches, ribs, and columns. Unfortunately, historical and natural events have damaged the original structure, with the loss of many elements. Public property since the early 1800s, it was a prison until the last century, when it was decided to enhance the site with restoration works. Today, in addition to hosting a library and event rooms, it houses the Archaeological Civic Museum.
Information about the Sessa Aurunca Civic Museum
c/o Ducal Castle
81037 Sessa Aurunca (Caserta)
0828982073
Source: MIBACT
