Castle Murat, Military museum and castle in Pizzo, Italy
Castle Murat is a fortress positioned on a rocky coastal outcrop in Pizzo with thick stone walls forming a rectangular core and defensive towers. The structure sits high above the Gulf of Saint Euphemia and looks out toward the sea from its elevated position above the town.
The fortress was built in the 15th century by Aragonese forces to guard the coastal region. The castle became historically significant in 1815 when French general Joachim Murat faced execution within its walls.
The name refers to Joachim Murat, the French military commander whose final days unfolded within these walls. Visitors walking through can sense the weight of those events and understand why locals remember this castle as a place of both drama and sorrow.
The castle is walkable from Pizzo's town center through streets and stairways leading to the entrance. Wear sturdy shoes since paths are steep in places and the ground can be uneven near the fortification.
A preserved cell in the castle's lower level held Murat during his final days, where he composed personal letters to his family before his fate. Walking into this small room offers visitors a direct connection to this historical moment and the human side of the story.
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