Castello Svevo di Bari
Bari
Massive and imposing, the Castello Svevo, the Swabian Castle, dominates the edge of Bari Vecchia with its walls and bastions. A fortress of Norman origin rebuilt by Frederick II of Swabia, it tells of centuries of military history and of the rulers who followed one another in the Apulian capital.
History
The origins of the Castello Svevo go back to the Norman period: the first fortress was built in 1132. Destroyed in 1156 by William I "the Bad" while crushing a revolt in the city, it was rebuilt from 1233 by Frederick II of Swabia, who gave it the look of a solid fortress still recognisable in the central core, with its corner towers. In the following centuries the castle passed to the Angevins and then the Aragonese, undergoing many alterations that adapted its defences to changing military techniques and to the arrival of firearms.
What to see
The building is arranged around a Swabian core with a trapezoidal plan, enclosed by a mighty bastioned wall added in the Aragonese period to withstand artillery. You cross a bridge over the old moat to reach the inner courtyard, overlooked by elegant staircases and Renaissance portals. Inside, the Gipsoteca holds a precious collection of plaster casts reproducing the main decorative features of Apulia's Romanesque monuments, a great help in understanding the region's art.
Curiosities
In the 16th century the castle was the residence of Isabella of Aragon and her daughter Bona Sforza, future queen of Poland, who stayed here and left a lasting mark on the city. Bona Sforza, who married the Polish king Sigismund I, is still a figure who ideally links Bari to the history of Poland. Today the castle's halls host temporary exhibitions and cultural events.
How to visit
The Castello Svevo stands at the edge of the Città Vecchia, the old town, a short walk from the Cattedrale di San Sabino. It is run as a museum and open to the public at regular hours; temporary exhibitions, art shows and cultural initiatives that bring the ancient rooms to life are often held inside. It is worth walking the patrol path along the bastions to see the defensive layout from above and the view over the old town. A must-stop on the treasure map that crosses medieval Bari.
