Castello normanno-aragonese di San Nicandro Garganico, Medieval castle in San Nicandro Garganico, Italy.
The Castello Normanno-Aragonese di San Nicandro Garganico is a fortress in the town of San Nicandro Garganico with a trapezoidal floor plan. The north side has two square towers, while the south side features two circular Aragonese towers, and a Renaissance loggia entrance once connected it to an adjacent palace.
The structure started as a Norman watchtower and was later converted into a fortress that served Emperor Frederick II as a hunting lodge in the Gargano region. Over time, the buildings were expanded and modified to serve different military and administrative purposes.
The fortress displays a blend of Norman and Aragonese building styles that reflect the region's construction traditions of different periods. Visitors can observe these distinct influences in the towers and walls, which come from separate eras.
The site is accessible to visitors and available for cultural events since the municipality of San Nicandro Garganico took ownership. The best time to visit is outside the hottest summer months, when the weather is milder and visitor numbers are lower.
The structure was closely linked to imperial hunting and served Frederick II multiple times as a retreat during his stays in the region. This connection to royal history sets it apart from many other fortresses in the area that served primarily military functions.
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