Copertino Castle, Military museum and castle in Copertino, Italy
Copertino Castle is a stone military fortress with a star-shaped design and four corner bastions. The walls are pierced by around 90 arrow slits that served as positions for defensive cannons.
The fortress was originally built during the Norman period, but was completely rebuilt in 1540 by military architect Evangelista Menga. The reconstruction followed new defensive techniques specifically designed against gunpowder weapons.
The Chapel of Saint Mark displays frescoes from the 15th century that show the artistic style of that period in southern Italy and offer visitors insight into the religious art traditions of the region.
The castle stands on Piazza Castello in the centre of Copertino, between Manduria and Galatina north of Gallipoli. Visitors enter across a stone bridge over the ditch that still rings the keep; the original defensive entrance had no such bridge. Inside, galleries link the four lance-shaped bastions around the square courtyard.
The entrance portal is carved with monstrous figures, plant motifs and pieces of weapons and armour, a decoration suited to a fortress. On the east curtain a Latin inscription reads "pater patruus et socer" (father, uncle and father-in-law), referring to Alfonso Castriota, who commissioned the 1540 rebuilding for his granddaughter Maria, wife of his son Antonio.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,010 contributors worldwide.
