Castello Pignatelli di Montecalvo Irpino

Pignatelli Castle in Montecalvo Irpino is a place of historical interest situated in Via Dietro Corte.

The Castle's name comes from one of the last families to administer the town: the Pignatelli family. Its origins are ancient: the first document to mention the Castle’s existence dates back to 1096. However, almost nothing remains of its original aspect, partly because the many noble families who owned the Castle over the centuries would adapt its structure according to the system of defence required at the time.

The current aspect of the Castle of Montecalvo Irpino is the result of extensive restoration works commissioned by the Pignatelli family after the serious damage caused by the 1456 earthquake, and the work of the Carafa family, which held the fief for more than 300 years until the early 19th century.  The 18th-century bastions built to defend the Castle against attacks by hostile troops can still be seen today. Access to the recently-restored Pignatelli Castle is through an archway dating back to 1505. Located in Via Santa Maria, it opens onto the inner ward, while on the outside you can still see the remains of a cylindrical tower and the curtain wall running the length of the perimeter.

A historic symbol of the Montecalvo community, the Castle has resisted the inexorable passage of time and still stands strong today, as a testimony to the past of this Irpinian town.