Castello Tramontano, Medieval castle in Matera, Italy
Castello Tramontano is a stone fortress perched on Lapillo Hill with a central tower and two round towers flanking the structure. The walls feature defense loops and crenellated tops designed to protect against attacks from all directions.
Construction began in 1501 under Count Giovanni Carlo Tramontano but stopped abruptly in 1514 when local citizens killed him in response to his harsh taxation. This dramatic event became a turning point in the city's relationship with nobility.
The name recalls the Tramontano family who ruled this area for generations. Walking around the structure today shows how this family's authority shaped the local landscape.
Currently the site remains closed to visitors as ongoing restoration work on the walls and moat has continued since 2008. You can view the exterior and surrounding park area from outside the gates while waiting for eventual reopening.
Excavations beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto uncovered ancient Roman water cisterns with vaulted ceilings buried below the fortress foundations. This discovery reveals that the fortress sits atop layers of much older settlement history.
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