Rocca dei Rettori

Rocca dei Rettori (also known as Castle of Manfredi) is a castle in Benevento, southern Italy. It currently houses the Museum of the Samnium.

Archaeological excavations held during the 1998 restoration have proven that the area was used since prehistoric times: findings include a necropolis from the (7th-6th century BC), surmounted by Samnite tombs. The Samnites built here a rampart around the 4th century BC, and were the first to use the place as a defensive position. The Romans built here a bath building, known as Castellum aquae, carrying the water through an aqueduct from the Serino river.

The Lombards re-used defensive the location, and raised the eastern wall. In the 8th century, a Benedictine monastery was erected here. Starting from 771, during the rule of Duke Arechis II of Benevento, the monastery was united to a castle or fortified palace (Castrum vetus), which was enlarged around the 11th century. Subsequently, the edifice lived a period of semi-abandonment. In 1321 Pope John XXII asked the governor of the city, William of Balaeto, to restore the building as a residence for the papal rectors. The nuns were transferred to the monastery of San Pietro.

In the 16th century, the Rocca was enlarged. From 1586 it was increasingly used as a jail, which was active until 1865. After the 1702 earthquake, the edifice was partially rebuilt under design by Carlo Buratti.

The Rocca is located in the highest point of the historical center of Benevento. The current appearance is the result of numerous renovations and additions along the centuries. It is composed of two main bodies: the Big Tower (Torrione), built by the Lombards, is the only visible remain of their original fortress, although it has been restored several times, until in the 15th century it obtained the current appearance (and is thus known as Castrum novum, "New Castle").

The Torrione has an elevation of 28 meters. The walls include fragments of Roman edifices (especially in the eastern side) and has ogival double mullioned windows. The terrace has two turrets.

The other main body of the fortress is the Palazzo dei Governatori Pontifici ("Palace of the Papal Rectors", or governors. This edifice has the main entrance on the eastern side, with a staircase leading to a rear garden which is at an upper level than the nearby road.

Text adapted from “Rocca dei Rettori” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Rocca dei Rettori ranks #4,986 of 8,133 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #376 of the 487 mapped in Italy. Founded c. 350 BC, it is older than 99% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 12 atlas entries founded in the 4th century BC. 1 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Naples, 55 km away. See how Italy compares in the castle statistics.

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