Swabian Castle
Colle Pancrazio
On Colle Pancrazio, 383 metres up, it overlooks the old town. According to tradition a first fort dates to 937; the Normans enlarged it from the 12th century, and Frederick II extended and adapted it following the imperial directives of 1220.
The story
The castle stands on Colle Pancrazio, 383 metres above sea level, looking down over the old town. Its origins are older than the label "Norman-Swabian" suggests: tradition places a first fort in 937, credited to the townspeople or to the Byzantines depending on the source, and a Saracen phase is mentioned later. The Normans enlarged it from the 12th century, under Roger II, giving it the look of fortresses of the time.
Under Frederick II the castle changed face: Treccani notes that it was enlarged and adapted following imperial directives of 1220, and several popular sources link the work to damage from the 1184 earthquake. The rectangular plan, the crenellated walkways and the octagonal tower belong to the Swabian phase. Then came the Angevins, who made it a princely residence, the Spanish, a seminary and a Bourbon prison; since 1885 it has belonged to the city.
What to look for
Look for the octagonal tower, of declared Swabian origin, with its umbrella vault carried on eight ribs, and for the so-called Angevin corridor with its fleur-de-lis medallions (though its structure seems older). An Aragonese coat of arms marks the entrance portal, and from up here the view runs over the old town.
In the story
History & Culture. The historic and architectural heritage of the old town, without the textbook tone.
Before you go
Opening hours and entrances can change: check on Google Maps or on the spot before you set off.
The old town is explored on foot and has a few climbs: how to get here and around.
Sources
Texts built on public sources. Where sources disagree we say so; if you spot a mistake or have an extra document, write to us.
- Castello normanno-svevo (Cosenza) - Wikipedia in Italian it.wikipedia.org
- Cosenza - Enciclopedia Federiciana, Treccani (P. De Leo) in Italian treccani.it
- Castello di Cosenza - Catalogo generale dei beni culturali (MiC) in Italian catalogo.cultura.gov.it
- Storia - Castello Svevo Cosenza (sito del castello) in Italian castellocosenza.it
- Torre ottagonale - Castello Svevo Cosenza in Italian castellocosenza.it
- Mappa del castello - Castello Svevo Cosenza in Italian castellocosenza.it
- Castello Normanno-Svevo di Cosenza - Musei online in Italian museionline.info
- Il castello normanno-svevo di Cosenza - itCosenza in Italian italiani.it
- Castello Svevo di Cosenza - I beni culturali, ITALIE in Italian italianlimitededition.it
- Storia di Cosenza - Wikipedia in Italian it.wikipedia.org
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