Castello di Melendugno, building in Melendugno, Italy
Castello di Melendugno, also called Palazzo baronale D'Amely, is a fortification in the center of town with an unusual star-shaped layout rarely seen in the Puglia region. The structure rises about 40 feet (12 meters) high with walls nearly 15 feet (4.5 meters) thick and was originally surrounded by a moat, parts of which remain visible today.
The castle was designed in the second half of the 1500s by Gian Giacomo dell'Acaya, a renowned military engineer, for Pompeo Paladini, the seventh baron of Melendugno. Its star-shaped design represented new defensive technology developed to withstand cannons and modern firearms of that era.
The D'Amely family name comes from the nobles who acquired the castle in 1733 and made it their residence. Their coat of arms, featuring two lions and a crenellated tower, still decorates the main entrance and identifies the building as a family stronghold.
The castle sits on Via G. D'Amely in the town center and is viewable from outside, with the main facade featuring the coat of arms and a statue of the Virgin Mary clearly visible. Interior access is not always available, but the outer walls, former moat, and architectural details can be examined from the surrounding area.
A small chapel on the ground floor contains ancient frescoes depicting Jesus and Mary with the Christ Child, reflecting the religious beliefs of earlier inhabitants. This hidden chapel reveals that the fortress served not only defensive purposes but also as a private place of worship for the resident family.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
