Imperial Castle, Sant’Agata di Puglia

The history of the Castle of Sant’Agata, which mostly also reflects that of the town, is mainly linked to the nature of the place that hosts it, as an excellent observatory and strategic point, overlooking the Calaggio valley, the borders of Irpinia, Lucania, and Daunia, and located right at the outlet of the Campanian passes towards Puglia (borders of Lombard-Byzantine rule). 

The territory was crossed by a vast Roman road network and had a significant monastic presence, as testified by monuments and remains. 

The Castle, Castrum or Rocca, was called Artemisium in the Roman period, perhaps due to the fact that there was a pagan temple at the top of the mountain. 

With the advent of Christianity, and precisely when in 592 by the will of Pope Gregory the Great the relics of the Martyr St. Agatha were transported from Catania to Rome, Artemisium was baptized S. Agata in honor of the Saint. The Rocca of Sant’Agata played in the Middle Ages the very important role of a province or military-administrative district, having command of a district composed of a certain number of towns. 

During the Lombard domination Sant’Agata was the last outpost of the Duchy of Benevento. 

By around the year 1000 it was owned by Landulf and Pandulf, princes of Benevento.