Copertino Castle
The Copertino Castle (Castello di Copertino) is one of the largest fortresses in Apulia, southern Italy, set in the town of Copertino on the heel of the peninsula between Manduria and Galatina, north of Gallipoli. Built in the Norman period and dramatically reinforced in 1540, it combines a medieval keep with imposing Renaissance bastions.
At a glance
- Type
- Castle / fortress
- Period
- Norman origin; remodelled 1540
- Style
- Angevin keep with Renaissance bastioned fortification; Catalan-Durazzesque portal
- Location
- Copertino, Province of Lecce, Apulia, Italy
Overview
Like the castle of Otranto, Copertino was built for the defence of the Salento peninsula. Originally a Norman stronghold, it was significantly altered for Alfonso Castriota in 1540 by Charles V’s renowned fortifications expert Evangelista Menga, in response to military developments including the use of gunpowder. It is one of the largest fortresses ever constructed in Apulia.
History
The 1540 alterations added a ditch and majestic bastions with ninety arrow slits to allow for the movement of cannon. Copertino thus incorporates an Angevin keep, later enlarged to a quadrangular plan with a tapered rampart at each of the four corners. Local folklore holds that Isabella of Clermont, who later became Queen of Naples, was born at Copertino.
What you see
The entrance portal is in Catalan-Durazzesque style, conceived as a triumphal arch, with the chapel of St Mark to the right of the entrance vestibule; the chapel is decorated with 15th-century frescoes by the Mannerist painter Gianserio Strafella. The inner courtyard includes several enormous galleries, and to the left of the entrance stands the porticoed palace built for the Squarciafico Pinelli, Counts of Copertino.
Cultural significance
Copertino Castle is a landmark of Salento’s military architecture, illustrating the transition from medieval keep to gunpowder-era bastioned fortress. Its association with figures such as the Counts of Copertino and the Princes of Belmonte ties it to the noble history of southern Italy.
Practical information
Located in the centre of Copertino. Opening times and ticketing vary; check the official website before planning a visit.
Getting there
Copertino lies in the province of Lecce, reachable by road from Lecce and Gallipoli, with regional rail and bus links serving the town from the surrounding Salento network.