Castello d'Aquino

The D'Aquino Castle of Grottaminarda stands in a dominant position in the ancient village of "Fratta". Medieval fortress that belonged for centuries to various feudal families and became municipal property in 1988, still dominates the old town of "Fratta"

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History

The original layout of this fortress, with an almost trapezoidal plan, dates back to the early Middle Ages and was expanded around the first half of the 12th century with the installation of the defensive walls. It first belonged to the D'Aquino family, from 1134 to 1531, when it was stolen from them by Charles V, to then pass to various feudal families and become, in 1988, municipal membership. Following the earthquakes of 1694 and 1732, part of the structure of the Castello D'Aquino became a read more

The original layout of this fortress, with an almost trapezoidal plan, dates back to the early Middle Ages and was expanded around the first half of the 12th century with the installation of the defensive walls. It first belonged to the D'Aquino family, from 1134 to 1531, when it was stolen from them by Charles V, to then pass to various feudal families and become, in 1988, municipal membership. Following the earthquakes of 1694 and 1732, part of the structure of the Castello D'Aquino became a stately home and various rooms were readapted: the first floor of the southern sector was used as a residential area and an area behind it was transformed into a sumptuous roof garden with terrace, overlooking the suggestive panorama of the valley below, flourishing in vegetation. Despite the numerous restoration interventions that have involved it, some of the perimeter walls from the Aragonese period are still visible today, made up of rows of bricks alternating with river pebbles or limestone, cemented with very hard mortar. Furthermore, the four towers remain at the corners of the old defensive bulwark: three cylindrical and one with a square plan, all on an escarpment base, in order to bring greater defensive advantages to the manor. There are still admirable remains of the Guelph crenellated crowning at the top of some wall sections. The lower part of the structure, on the other hand, houses the cellars, created inside an underground cave, and some barrel-vaulted tunnels. Recently restored, Castello D'Aquino is home to the Antiquarium Museum and houses the Municipal Library "O. Sanini" and still shows the splendor of the past. A visit to the site is not to be missed, because it is a real pride for the entire Ufita Valley, testimony to the history of Grottaminarda. read less