"The castle, a dark symbol of power, sheltered behind walls and detached from everyday life, never really belonged to the people of Bari- rather than feeling protected by it – they felt threatened" (Stefania Mola).
The Norman-Swabian castle stands at the outer rim of the old city, between Corso Antonio De Tullio and Piazza Federico II di Svevia. Its imposing fortress walls are armed with large bastions, and surrounded on three of its four sides by a deep moat (the fourth side, i.e. the northern side, used to border directly with the sea). The castle is encircled by the picturesque gardens of Isabel of Aragon, Duchess of Bari between 1501 and 1524. Isabel of Aragon and Bona Sforza, both of the Aragonese court, were the two duchesses of Bari whose charm managed to mitigate the resentment the citizens of Bari felt towards this symbol of imperial power.
Roger the Norman had the first fortified structure built in 1131, whereas the castle’s current conformation is the result of subsequent modifications and additions carried out during the Norman, Swabian, Angevin and Aragonese eras.
The bridge over the south side dry moat leads to the entrance gate decorated with the Bourbon coat of arms, the last holders of the castle (18th-19th century). This gate allows access to the internal courtyard that precedes the original medieval core.
Each corner of the medieval castle is armed with a tower whose name refers to a historical moment, i.e. the "Tower of Minors" (south-west) used to be a juvenile prison (1832 -1931) and is also known as the "Viscontina", recalling the construction work carried out on it by Gaspare Visconti, under the Sforza family; the "Tower of the Traffic Light" or "Marine Tower" (south-east) was where the Navy had once installed a traffic light on the terrace; the "Tower of the Monk" or "Tower of St. Francis" (north-west) allegedly hosted St. Francis who lived during the time of Frederick II; the "Tower of the Wind" (north-east).
On the west side, near the “Tower of Minors”, stands an elegant portal with an ogival arch built by Frederick II. The archivolt ornament featuring an eagle clenching a prey in its claws symbolises the imperial power exercised by the castle owners.
The portal opens onto a vestibule with high cross vaults supported by columns and pilasters adorned with foliate capitals. It extends into a loggia (i.e. a covered gallery) that faces onto the central Renaissance courtyard that is embellished by an Aragonese imperial staircase. The ramp on the left had been built to replace a pre-existing medieval one, while the one on the right was built for access on horseback.
In the 19th century, the castle had been used as a prison and barracks. Today, it houses the Region’s Directorate for Architectural and Landscape Heritage, as well as a Plaster Cast Gallery situated on the ground floor, in two west-wing rooms. The collection includes plaster casts of sculptural ornaments gathered from some of the most important 11th to 17th-century religious and civic buildings in Apulia. Other rooms on the upper floor are utilised as temporary exhibitions, and house a collection of 16th-17th century ceramics and majolica found in situ.
The north side of the courtyard leads to an underground passageway where the remains of dwellings and Byzantine iron and bone object-making systems and facilities can be admired. A mid-10th century church, possibly dedicated to worship Saint Apollinaris, is also found here.