Caracciolo Castle, castle in Tocco da Casauria, Italy

Caracciolo Castle is a medieval fortress in Tocco da Casauria that was built between 1000 and 1100 as a military stronghold. The structure features four corner towers surrounding a central courtyard, with thick lower walls made of large stones and lighter upper sections finished with decorated windows and Renaissance details.

The castle was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1456 that killed the lord Giovanni De Tortis. His son Antonio rebuilt it in 1457 in Renaissance style, transforming it from a military fortress into a ducal residence for the ruling nobles.

The name Caracciolo comes from Gennaro Caracciolo of Naples, who married into the Pinelli line that held Tocco; the palace passed to his family and their heirs lived there until after World War II. In the courtyard, a 1457 Latin plaque records the earthquake that killed Giovanni De Tortis and the rebuilding by his son Antonio with three hundred Bolognese workers.

The castle can be viewed from the outside and sits on a hillside with views across the valley and town. It is best to contact the local town office beforehand, as access is limited and not available every day.

The eastern tower held the "Lombard prison", a name that may refer to Lombard masons or soldiers rather than to prisoners. The southern tower keeps Ghibelline battlements, the swallowtail merlons of the pro-imperial faction; the other three towers are thought to have carried the same crown.