The Swabian castle of Bari

The Norman-Swabian Castle (Castello Normanno-Svevo) was built in 1132 on the Adriatic seafront under the reign for Norman King Roger II, the conqueror to keep the citizen or Bari under control.

The Castle was destroyed in 1156 by King William I of Sicily, and was resurrected and fortified in 1233 under the patronage of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II. Over time, it saw various transformations during the Angevin domination, and after being held by several noble families, it eventually became a prison and barracks under the King of Naples. Today it is home to a museum and the city's cultural center. The castle is surrounded by a moat and located close to the old town between the old dockyard and the Cathedral

Encircled by a moat on all sides, except its northern border with the sea, accessible via a bridge and gate to the south, the castle primarily features Aragon walls and the prominent Hohenstaufen tower.

Western rampart of the castle.

Bridge leading to the entrance of the castle.

Entering the castle.

View of the moat on the Western ramparts. In the background on the right is the old town.

Moat on the left hand side on the entrance of the castle.

The entrance of the museum

Huge courtyard inside the castle.

Ruins structures that was dismantled during the 16th century.

Huge rusted anchor.

The portal was built between the 14th and 15th decades of the 13th century. The arch with carves ashlars in which numerous creatures are represented.

On the keystone of the arch an eagle appears clutching a prey. This subject frequently occurring in the Frederician architecture is a typical symbol of Imperial power

The portal leads to the Atrium marked by columns covered with cross vaults.

The columns are adorned with capitals decorated with plants and animal motifs.

Clover view of a column and capital.

On the left is the door leading to the audio room an on the right is a door leading to the inner courtyard.

Inner courtyard.

Fresco of the Pappacoda family's coat of arms between a Saint Bishop and a Saint Hermit. It could be dated between 1524 and 1556.

It is located at the entrance of the Multi Media room.

The entrance to the Multi media room

The Multi Media room where people can listen and watch the history of Bari.

The inner courtyard is the result of the 16th century renovation commissioned by Bona Sforza

The inner courtyard.

The inner courtyard is massive.

We are now entering the Gipsoteca which a plaster museum. The plaster casts were created by Sculptors Pasquale Duretto and Mario Sabatelli in 1911 for the national exhibition held in Rome of the 15th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

The collection includes 130 plaster casts reproduction of capitals, sculptural decoration, portals, archivolts of the most reprentative religious and civil monument of Puglia.