The results, of great historical interest, of the restoration work on the southern wall of the internal courtyard of the mighty defensive structure were illustrated this morning, 1st July 2024, in the Celestino V room of the Aragonese castle. This has allowed better define the Swabian-angioin componenton which the Aragonese built. The host was the admiral of the team Vincenzo Montanaro, commander of the inter-regional Marittimo Sud, who emphasized the record number of visitors that the Aragonese castle is registering: more than 1,300,000 from 2005 to todaywith an annual average since 2016 (with the interruption during the covid period) of 115-120 thousand people. “The figure – he highlighted – is susceptible to increase if we consider that by the middle of this year we have already reached 56 thousand, a figure including 15 thousand students, of which 12 thousand from all over Italy”.
“All this confirms how the Aragonese castle is a pole of attraction of undoubted interest and which allows the visitor to better discover the city and perhaps desire to return – continued Admiral Montanaro – This highlights the work of the Navy to protect national interests, of which culture is an important component. We will continue to work to increase interest in one of our major symbols on the part of all the people of Taranto, with whom the bond is indissoluble, trying to pass on the message regarding the importance of maritimeity for a country like Italy and in particular of cities like Taranto”.
It was then Admiral Francesco Ricci’s turn to present the results of the interventions carried out, which consisted of the demolition of the most modern staircase of the photographic laboratory and the plastering of the facade, bringing back into view the original regularly squared ashlars, mostly made of carparo with insertions of tuff and Lecce stone. Several elements emerged during the works that confirmed the Swabian-Angevin origin of the castle, in common with other examples of architecture of the time, starting from the double saw-tooth frieze and the pointed ogival arch, both at the height of the lodgings. Furthermore, careful studies have led to the belief that the niches of the southern gallery were nothing other than arrows to protect against attacks from outside, in use in the Swabian-Angevin period.
It is very likely (it has been said) that the entire building behind the facade affected by the works dates back to that period and that this building included the large hall.the prince’s hall and the loggia mentioned in the “Statutum de reparatione castro rum”, the document issued by Frederick II around 1240, repeated by the Angevin chancellery in the last decades of the 13th century, which contains the only description of the pre-existing Swabian-Angevin castle of Taranto.
“The discoveries in the southern wing are of great importance as they tell the story of the castle’s past. We knew very well that the Aragonese (who were responsible for the towers) had built on the previous Swabian-Angevin construction, but we didn’t have clear ideas about what exactly the interested part was. Now, thanks to the restorations and archaeological research, we have managed to understand it better, adding a further piece to our knowledge of the castle” – concluded Admiral Ricci.
Then Dr. Francesca Romana Paolillo, national superintendent of culture, took stock of the situation regarding the archaeological research and enhancement project of the Aragonese castle, managed by the National Superintendency for Underwater Cultural Heritage. This is restoration and conservative rehabilitation works for the implementation of an integrated project of stratigraphic excavation, structural consolidation and restoration of the ancient remains together with enhancement interventions for the use of the archaeological sites brought to light, such as the archaic quarry, the wall remains of the Hellenistic, Byzantine, Norman and pre-Aragonese ages and of funerary hypogea reused as rock settlements.
“the archaeological excavation campaign that will start in autumn – said Dr. Francesca Romana Paolillo – is of a certain importance as knowledge of the stratigraphies of the ancient and medieval city must always be at the basis of every restoration intervention, valorisation and use of monumental complexes. We will start with the area of the ancient kitchens and the San Cristoforo tower where we will certainly achieve very notable results as the place is full of millenary history. All this, together with the data acquired from 2003 to today, will help us to draw up a project of enhancement and use that we will carry forward together with the Navy in a sharing of intents and opportunities for the entire territory”.
For his part, Prof. Lucio Pierri of “Gli Amici del Castello Aragonese” illustrated the activities carried out by the association for stimulate the city’s interest in the manor and in particular of young people through scholarships. The meeting concluded with a moment of conviviality to celebrate Admiral Ricci’s eightieth birthday and the recent awarding of a medal of merit by the Navy for its commitment to enhancing the Aragonese castle.
*Featured photo by Federica Pompamea
