Conversano Castle

Conversano's Norman castle, whose round towers and crenellated walls dominate the hilltop, has been continuously inhabited or modified from the 11th century to the present. The current appearance is largely the result of 15th-century Aragonese work and later Renaissance modifications, with the round corner towers added in the 16th century. The exterior is impressive by any measure; the castle is built on the highest point of the hill with views in all directions over the olive groves and the distant Adriatic.

The interior houses the Pinacoteca Civica di Conversano, a collection of medieval and Baroque paintings drawn mainly from the town's churches and convents. The quality is higher than you might expect: several works from the school of Bartolomeo Vivarini and a notable 16th-century polyptych make it worth an hour even for visitors not primarily interested in religious painting. The pinacoteca is closed on Mondays.

things to do sight
A story
The most powerful figure associated with Conversano's castle is the Countess Giulia Acquaviva d'Aragona, who ruled here in the mid-17th century with such independence that she was known throughout Puglia as the "Countess of Conversano" and something of a local legend. She fortified the castle, patronised the arts, and reportedly conducted a years-long feud with local clergy that culminated in an armed standoff. Her story inspired a 19th-century novel by Tommaso Acocella.