Description of the attraction
Trani Castle is located in the Italian region of Apulia in the small town of Trani in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani. Standing in the old part of the city, it was erected in the first half of the 13th century by order of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and by the design of the military engineer Count Filippo Chinardo. Along the perimeter, the castle was surrounded by powerful stone walls and a moat, and four fortified towers were built in the corners. The location of the castle on the rocky shore of a shallow bay protected the structure from sea storms. Very often Castello di Trani is called the castle of Frederick II, because the great emperor visited here regularly and loved these places. The Sicilian king Manfred, son of Frederick II, who was married to Elena Angelina Ducaina, was also fond of the castle.
In 1533-1541, Emperor Charles V initiated the first reconstruction of Castello di Trani - the castle walls were seriously fortified, and the towers were equipped with a cannon. This fortification was fueled by the rapid development and proliferation of firearms throughout Europe. Then, in the first half of the 19th century, the castle underwent another rebuilding - this time it was turned into the main city prison. It remained a prison until the middle of the 20th century. Only in the 1970s, the Trani castle was bought by the city municipality, and in 1979 large-scale restoration work was carried out within its walls. In 1998, the castle was opened to the public.
Today Castello di Trani, like most other Puglia castles, is used for a variety of cultural events - exhibitions, theatrical performances, shows, etc. The castle itself, built in a severe Gothic style, looks quite austere and contrasts strongly with the appearance of the nearby Trani Cathedral. But if you look closely at its powerful walls, you can see the features of ancient Roman classical architecture.
