Pacentro Castle

The castle of Pacentro, located on the highest part of the village, at an altitude of 718 m. on Mount Morrone, it is one of the best preserved fortified structures in Abruzzo.

The castle deserves a stop and a visit.
The visit has an entrance fee of 2 euros

The fortified complex stands guard over the Peligna Valley. The castle of Pacentro is the oldest in Abruzzo as it was mentioned for the first time in 951 AD. The castle develops around a trapezoidal-shaped internal courtyard: originally four buildings united the perimeter towers, defining a powerful defensive structure of which, in the second half of the 15th century, the complex reached its definitive, largely stratified structure. Towards the end of the fourteenth century. the construction of the three internal towers ends, while that of the cylindrical corner bastions in the 16th century. The castle belonged to the Caldora family in the 14th century. , to then pass to the Orsinis, the Colonnas and finally to Matteo Barberini. In 1957 it became the property of the municipality of Pacentro. After numerous restorations, part of the castle can now be visited with the possibility of accessing one of the torridas where you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of the Peligna Valley. The decorative apparatus reveals a Renaissance matrix close to the results of the bell tower cornice. The "Tower of Possession or King" is the northwest tower behind the drawbridge. It is about 25 meters high and has the particularity of having five sides. Its name derives from the fact that in the Middle Ages and up to the 1600s the feudal lord, taking possession of the feud, climbed this tower to watch the territory on which he acquired possession. The "ghost tower" is the tower located to the north-east and is also the most artistically precious. Its name derives from a story handed down on Baron Roberto De Luczinardo who had the likeness of his beautiful wife Margherita De Braj sculpted, who died of a broken heart in learning the false news of his death. It is believed to have been built in the 14th century and is 27.45 meters high. The "siege tower"n located to the southeast is according to the most recent theories, the oldest one. It is 12.95 meters high, according to a recent hypothesis its partial collapse would be attributable to the siege suffered by the castle in 1230 by the imperial army of Frederick II.

Hours: Sunday – Monday 10-13 15-19