Itinerario

Murat Castle – Pizzo (VV)

The construction of the Murat Castle took place in two different historical periods. The first part of it consisted of only the largest tower called Torre Mastia or watchtower. Its construction was part of the defensive system implemented by the Angevins for the defense of coastal towns from Saracen raids and dates back to the end of the 1300s.

Continued a hundred years later by Ferdinand I of Aragon, it was part of that process of fortification of the coasts of southern Italy whose purpose was to contain the Saracen raids that infested the southern seas. In fact, Aragon, left alone against the Turks, tried to secure its Kingdom, fortifying the coastal places most exposed to Saracen raids, and with the ordinance of November 12, 1480, it decreed, for Calabria, the fortification of Reggio and the construction of castles in Crotone, Cariati, Corigliano, Belvedere, Pizzo and other places. For Pizzo it was decided to add a massive rectangular body to the already existing Angevin tower, equipped with a truncated conical tower, somewhat smaller than the previous one, and to build a little further down, overlooking the Marina, a watchtower. The works lasted from 1481 to 1485.

Once its construction was completed, the new castle, equipped with arquebuses and artillery, had a garrison of soldiers, under the command of an officer. It was never a noble residence, but always a military fortress and prison.

The feudal lord was the Count of Mileto Carlo Sanseverino who was later removed for having participated in the conspiracy of the barons against the king. In 1505 it was ceded by Ferdinand the Catholic to the De Mendozas and by succession to the De Silvas, duke of the Infantado until 1806, the year of the abolition of feudalism. Passed to the state property, it was sold in 1884 to the Municipality of Pizzo. With a decree of 3 June 1892 it was declared a "National Monument".