Oria’s Castle – Internal walls
Considering the strategic position of Oria ( between the bizantini and goti) even if we don’t have proof it is safe to assume that a fortified section was built in the city begging in medieval time. After (IX) there must’ve been some type of defense system of the territory builted by the normans. A lot of modifications happened to the city of Federico that it was called the svevian castle. During the ”angioni” period, a lot of medication happened such as the build of the towers called “salto” and “del cavaliere”.
Ancient map of Oria
The original Norman-Swabian tower was heavily reworked, as indeed throughout the building, even during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, adapting to the new defensive needs, born with the adoption of firearms, and then providing it with numerous cannons in still visible part. It was subject to additions, renovations and reconstructions of the century: in 1897 the castle was ravaged by the cyclone that swept through the city of Oria.Numerous times the castle had to withstand sieges, like Manfred, or the assaults of James Caldora (1433) and Peter de Paz (1504) that he could not take the fortress.
Oria’s Castle – Armory
The castle was also welcoming place for kings, princes and knights; in addition to the guests at the wedding of Federico II, we remember who stopped there the queen Maria d’Enghien (1407), her husband Ladislaus King of Naples (1414), Princess Isabella of Chiaromonte and King Ferrante of Aragon (1447); a very important episode for the era is the departure of Alfonso II from Oria to free Otranto by the Turks (1480). Even in recent times it has been the destination of Italian and foreign scholars such as: Maria Jose of Savoy, Margaret of England, Cardinal Eugene Tisserant, principles of Habsburg, Theodor Mommsen, Paul Bourget, Ferdinand Gregorovius and others.
Castle representation
On 15 December 1933 the City of Oria gave the castle to the Martini-Carissimo family, in exchange for Palazzo Martini, later used as a Municipal Office.
The Martini-Carissimo restored the castle with the help of architect Ceschi. In view of the efforts made by the Martini Carissimo family, the King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele III, wanted to give this family the title of Counts of Castel d’Oria. The Castle of Oria, declared National Monument, was sold July 2, 2007 the company Borgo Ducale srl 7 million and 750 thousand euro.