The Ducal Castle of Monte San Giovanni Campano represents a milestone in Italian historical and cultural heritage. A testament to a fascinating era, this building offers a glimpse into the heart of the Middle Ages with its imposing architecture, thick walls and fascinating history.
Risaligned in the late 10th century, the Castello Ducale è features two distinct towers, one pentagonal in shape and one quadrangular. This building, made of local stone, with walls more than 2m thick at the base, è a noteworthy example of medieval architecture. Originally, the palace included five floors, surpassing the height of the main tower. However, the upper three floors were demolished as a result of earthquake damage.
The Ducal Castle, once owned by the Counts of Aquino, è remembered for hosting the imprisonment of the saint St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. Given its strategic location, è it was used to defend the southern borders of the Papal States for centuries.
The interiors
The interior of the Ducal Castle offers a guided tour through the centuries. The dungeons preserve the ancient prisons adorned with prisoners’ writings on the walls, while the upper floor è destined to become a library. The place of imprisonment of St. Thomas Aquinas è was transformed in the 16th century into a chapel, equipped with a floor of turquoise and white checkered majolica and surmounted by a 16th-century triptych of the Neapolitan school.
The Towers
Two towers, one square and one pentagonal, rise majestically. The 12th-century square tower, with an access door placed almost halfway up, stands at a height of about 20m surrounded by an escarpment rampart. The pentagonal tower, dating back to the 13th century, has a large ogival-arched window and preserves two overlapping rooms inside, connected by an all-light staircase.
A legend has it that an underground communication existed between the two towers, which served as an escape route in case of need.