Arechi Castle

About

Arechi Castle is a castle in southern Italy located on top of a mountain (about 360m above sea level), at the foot of which lies the city of Salerno.

History: The construction of the castle began in the 6th century (over the remains of an old roman castrum) under the Byzantine rule (the construction of the oldest part of the ramparts made of sandstone blocks is characteristic of this period). Salerno was part of the Duchy of Benevento, which was the southernmost part of the Kingdom of the Lombards. When Charlemagne attacked the Lombards in the year 774, the Duchy of Benevento was ruled by Arechi II. He moved the main centre of power from Benevento to Salerno in order to strengthen his control over strategic areas such as the coastline and to secure communications within the province of Campania. During this period the castle was heavily fortified and its ramparts took the shape that have survived to our times. It was the place where lived the longobard rulers of the Principality of Salerno until the beginning of the Italian Rinascimento. Over the centuries, the castle had many owners. Archaeological work has identified, among other things, traces of the Norman presence. A watchtower...