Resti del Castello di Chiusano

The remains of the Castle of Chiusano di San Domenico are located on Mount San Domenico, at an altitude of about 780 metres above sea level.

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the fortress was built following the arrival of Germanic populations in Irpinia, dominating the San Marco Valley from above, where the modern part of the town would later develop. At that time, Chiusano belonged to the Duchy of Benevento, which later became a Principality, and the Castle itself was built to face the Samnite provincial capital. With the passing of the centuries, it was abandoned and disrupted by numerous cataclysmic events, including several earthquakes that caused the destruction, in large part, of the defensive fortress. 

Very little remains today of the Lombard defensive structure. Judging from the few surviving ruins, the fortress of Chiusano must have been imposing, so much so that from its position it was possible to see the entire territory to the east of the ancient Duchy of Benevento. Over the years, the Castle has undergone restoration work that, while not managing to fully recover the charm of the original fortress, has at least partially restored the ancient state of the place.

Among the countless testimonies of Lombard domination in Irpinia, the remains of Chiusano Castle still represent an important part of the town's history.