Gruppo BISACCIA

The Ducal Castle is the symbol of Bisaccia, it is one of the few best preserved fortified sites in southernItaly. In fact, traces of the primitive castrense plant of the Lombard era (second half viii-ix century), the monumental ones of the Federician era, the renovations in the Aragonese era and the definitive arrangement in the sixteenth century, with a beautiful Renaissance loggia.

The wall structure consists of large river pebbles mixed with square limestone blocks and very hard mortar. In the castle there is a cistern with purifier and phytolious pipes, for the outflow of water, a tower 12 meters high and 8 meters wide and the ruins of a small apse church. The rooms of the castle are 42. The wall structures, and the quadrilateral tower are Lombard. Numerous renovations, after damage and earthquakes, have altered its original physiognomy. On the main door of the castle the coat of arms of the Pignatelli d'Egurant is like a signature for the repairs carried out; two cylindrical towers are guarding; an all-sixth arch leads into a large courtyard, a stone staircase with iron balustrade, leads to the upper floor; at the center of the second open space the quadrangular tower retains its grandeur. The whole complex in the sixteenth century was transformed into a stately home. It is from that period the loggia with the numerous arches.

Unknown

Built around the eighth century by the Longobards, the fortification stands on a spur of Mount Calvary. The first historical information dates back to a deed of donation, written around 1087, in which "Roberto Barone di Bisaccia" is mentioned as owner.

Castello Ducale, C.so Romuleo, Bisaccia

Property of the Municipality of Bisaccia since 1977, subject to the constraint of the Superintendence of BAAC since 1909

Numerous recovery and restoration interventions have been carried out over the years, after the acquisition of the building by the Municipality of Bisaccia

Built around the 8th century by the Longobards, the fortification stands on a spur of Mount Calvario, as evidenced by recent wall structures brought to light near the quadrangular tower of the Ducal Castle. The discovery concerns, in fact, the primitive fortress built on the site towards the second half of the eighth century at the behest of the princes of the Duchy of Benevento. The first historical information dates back to a deed of donation, written around 1087, in which "Roberto barone di Bisaccia" is mentioned as the owner of the fief. In 1097 there is a deed of donation by Goffredo, count of Andria and lord of Monteverde, which brings among the witnesses gathered by the notary Leone the signatures of Riccardo, baron of Bisaccia and Basilio, bishop of the town, already for some time the suffragan bishopric of the archdiocese of Conza. A document dated 1124 speaks of a certain Guglielmo, lord of Bisaccia, who donated properties located in Piano di S. Pietro to the Abbey of Montevergine. With the advent of the Normans in southern Italy (1140-1170) and the creation of a new kingdom promoted by Roger II of Hauteville, the small fiefdom was granted by the dux Apuliae et Calabriae to another lord named Guglielmo. Between 1174 and 1179 we know of a Richard, bishop of Bisaccia, who participated in the Lateran council during the pontificate of Alexander III. In 1230 the fiefdom belonged to Riccardo I Cotignì, who after taking part in the failed conspiracy of Capaccio against the imperial authority loses it when King Manfred of Swabia succeeds his father Frederick II. Later donated to the Aquino family, the land of Bisaccia was returned in 1269 to Richard II Cotigni, who was succeeded by William and his eldest son Richard III. These are followed by his niece Mabilia, wife of Pietro Marra, due to lack of male heirs, and in 1340 one of the marshals of Robert of Anjou, Frederick of Antioch. During the Aragonese period, the town became part of the University of Cerignola, following its fiscal and administrative events. In 1462 Bisaccia, thanks to the intervention of Ferrante I, comes into the possession of Pirro del Balzo, from whom the inheritance Isabella, wife of Frederick of Aragon. In 1474, Ferdinand I camped in its vicinity with his army. Owned by the royal state property until 1504, the fiefdom 1518 returned to the state property due to lack of heirs and the lord of Giugliano, a certain Buccino, was appointed administrator. The Prince of Orange in 1528 assigns it to Alfonso d'Avalos, Marquis del Vasto, who sells it after five years for 8500 ducats to the Marquis of Villa and Lord of Pianta, Giambattista Manso, scholar and patron Tasso, friend of Torquato. The Manso is succeeded by Giulio I and Giulio II Batta. The castle and the income of Bisaccia were acquired in 1571 by the Marquis of Carife, Ettore Brayda, and in 1589 by Ferrante Gonzaga, who donated them to his daughter, wife of Gisuffo Pappacoda. Later the fiefdom passed to Antonio Pisaniello and from these to the poet Ascanio Pignatelli, who in 1600 was invested with the title of duke by King Philip II of Spain. The Pignatelli Bisaccia family remained until the subversion of feudalism and among the dukes who inherited the village we remember Francesco (1601), Giovanni Armando (1604), Francesco II (1719), Guido (1743), G. Armando II (1803) and G. Armando III (1809). With the birth of the new Kingdom of Italy, the country was registered in the Third District of Montefusco and was appointed governor Armato Montefuscoli in 1806. After the last of the Pignatellis died, King Ferdinand II granted the ducal title to the Count of Rachefoucauld in 1851, Carlo Maria Gabriele Sosthène and his legitimate heirs. In 1769, due to a fire, it was gradually abandoned by the noble feudal lords. From 1903 to 1920 it hosted the ancient and well-known Robucci family, the last owners of the ducal castle. Since 1975 the castle has belonged to the Municipality. The door features the coat of arms of the Pignatelli d’Egurant family who owned the castle from the late sixteenth to the early nineteenth century. Historically, the Bisaccia castle was a strategically important control bastion, which was part of a defensive line that had the function of protecting the territories of western and northern Puglia. This defense line, which ran along the Via Appia and the Via Traiana and which included, in addition to the fortress of Bisaccia, that of Sant'Agata di Puglia and that of Ariano Irpino, was the work of the Byzantine catapano Basilio Boioanne, who during his administrative reorganization he created the "Western captain". The Bisaccia castle at that time was called castrum Byzacium or Byzantii and was a Byzantine defensive outpost. Located in an earthquake zone, the town was severely hit by the earthquakes of 1158-1349-1456-1694-1732-1930 and 1980. Bisaccia was also a bishopric from the 11th century to 1513, when the dioceses was united to S. Angelo Lombardi, waters principaliter