Description of the attraction
The Marchione Castle, located near the town of Conversano in the province of Bari, is another noteworthy monument of the history and architecture of the Italian region of Apulia. Interestingly, the origin of its name, as well as the history of its construction, has not yet been precisely established. It is only known that once upon a time on the site of the castle, on the very shore of the sea, there was a hunting lodge surrounded by an oak grove. To this day, only one oak has survived, which is more than five centuries old. A beautiful old legend tells that under the castle there is still a secret underground passage that leads to the Conversano castle.
In the 18th century, Castello Marchione was the summer country residence of Prince Giulio IV Aquaviva, but already in the 19th century, the building was in disrepair. The castle was rented out, mainly to peasants; it changed owners, who cared little about the preservation of its artistic heritage. Only in the 1920s, when Julia Aquaviva d'Aragona became the owner of the castle, the first restoration work began within its walls. They continued after the death of the princess, when Castello Marchione passed to her son, Fabio Tomacelli Filomarino.
Today, Castello Marchione is a rectangular building with a mezzanine, four corner towers and a basement. The façade is decorated with small loggias, which are connected to the balconies of the towers, and carved balustrades, which can also be seen on the main staircase and the rear façade. The rooms on the upper floor, intended for the nobility, once had wooden ceilings, but in the 19th century they were replaced by stonework. Only the main hall has retained its original appearance - its wooden ceiling is decorated with the coat of arms of the house of Aquaviva d'Aragon. In the same room you can see the genealogical tree of the family and a painting depicting Gianjirolamo II Aquaviva, who was called "One-eyed from Puglia".
Since 1993, Castello Marchion has regularly hosted conferences, meetings, congresses and weddings, and in the summer in a garden with an area of over 100 thousand square meters. concerts are arranged.
