Conversano Castle, Norman castle in Conversano, Italy
Conversano Castle is a limestone fortress sitting at the highest point of the town of Conversano, in Puglia, southern Italy. It has four towers oriented to the cardinal directions, including one polygonal tower with slanted outer walls that sets it apart from the rest.
The fortress was built by the Normans in the 11th century as a defensive structure and remained a military stronghold for several centuries. The Acquaviva family took over in the 15th century and transformed it into a noble residence, adding new sections to the original structure.
The castle holds 17th-century paintings depicting religious and literary scenes, all connected to the artistic tradition of southern Italy. Walking through the rooms, visitors can see how the space shifted from a military function to one centered on art and daily noble life.
The castle sits in the center of Conversano and is easy to reach on foot from the old town. Inside, the visit involves climbing stairs and moving between different levels, so comfortable shoes are a good idea.
The polygonal tower has a shape that some compare to a shoe, with outward-leaning walls designed to deflect cannonballs rather than absorb their impact. This allowed defenders to fire from several angles at once, something that straight walls would not have made possible.
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