Caprarica Castle

The Castello di Caprarica is a castle in the municipality of Tricase. The building of the fortress was probably a consequence of the climate of fear that spread after the Turkish conquest of Otranto in 1480 and the subsequent Turkish raids. The fortress has a rectangular plan and was once surrounded by a moat. The 6-7 meters high and 1.4 meters thick walls were made from irregularly shaped blocks of brown Carparo - limestone constructed and have a robust floor division. At the corners there are round towers with sloping walls and small consoles that support the upper frames. The strict entrance portal is protected by a triple machicule.

Numerous rooms are arranged inside: four rooms on the ground floor, six on the upper floor, storage rooms and kitchens. Within the walls there is also a garden and a cistern for the water supply. At the beginning of the 20th century, traces of frescoes and figural niches of the small, inner chapel , which is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist , but is sometimes also called Christopher Chapel , could be identified, presumably through an empty room with ogive vaults , supported by pillars leaning against the wall. The fortress was used as a farm at the end of the 19th century.

Address
Via Pietro Toselli 6, Tricase, Italy

Established
1480-1524