Lagopesole Castle
This castle was usually used by the great Roman Emperor Frederick II as a stopover for haunting, one of his main passions; it is also famous for being the chosen headquarters of Manfredi, son of the Emperor, who was called Stupor Mundi (the “astonishment of the world”) by his contemporaries.
Perched on a small hill emerging from the Ofanto and Bradano rivers and overlooking Lagopesole village, this charming medieval castle has a rectangular design with two floors, and it is divided in two courtyards and one tower characterised, in the upper part, by a wall made of bossage, a typical feature of the Norman architecture.
The main courtyard is part of the enlargement work commissioned by Frederick II (1242) on the remains of previous Norman and Angevin buildings, and it includes also a wide tank and a big chapel. The chapel, built in the Romanesque style, distinguishes this splendid manor house from the other buildings attributed to Frederick II, being the only example of a place of worship as compared to the other castles dating back to the imperial period.
Even after the renovation works performed in the nineties, today the Lagopesole Castle still preserves the changes commissioned by Charles I, known also as Charles of Anjou. Used as a shelter by the Italian brigands led by Carmine Crocco in the nineteenth century, today the castle is an ideal location to host prestigious cultural events. A must-see attraction is the castle’s museum, where you can take a journey into the life of the Roman Emperor thanks to the multimedia “World of Frederick II” visitor experience and a multimedia show.