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The Castle of Minturno: the Caetani, Gonzaga and Carafa families: a thousand years of history
The Baronial Castle dominates Piazza Roma and the historic centre of Minturno from its position on a rocky outcrop. It was built in 839 AD by Bishop Leo on top of a pre-existing late-antique castrum, to defend the pontifical territories, which he himself named "Leopoli". The castle subsequently changed hands numerous times, going from the dukes of Gaeta to the abbots of Montecassino, Normans of Capua, Caetani, Gonzaga, and down to the Caracciolo-Carafa family.
A fortress that follows the rock
The trapezoidal ground plan was designed to follow the natural shape of the rocky spur. The main entrance, to the south-east, opens onto an entrance hall leading to a courtyard enclosed by a portico with pointed arches, an echo of the late Romanesque architecture of the Amalfi coast. From here, a stairway leads to the upper floor and the great Sala dei Baroni (Hall of the Barons). Originally a 60-metre tower rose high into the sky, but a lightning strike severely damaged it in the 19th century.
The most courted countess of the Renaissance
In the 16th century the castle belonged to Giulia Gonzaga, the widow of Vespasiano Colonna, and Countess of Fondi. Her beauty was legendary: Sebastiano del Piombo painted her portrait, and Ariosto mentioned her in the poem Orlando Furioso. In 1534 she narrowly escaped Barbarossa, who sought to abduct her and take her to Sultan Suleiman.
