Castello Svevo di Trani
Frederick II’s coastal castle on the sea at Trani, with a museum of stone finds and the Regina Margherita collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Castello Svevo di Trani was built at the wish of Frederick II of Swabia, who began its construction in 1233 on an existing tower and castle, to protect the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1239 it was included among the castra exempta (fortresses directly governed by the imperial court), and the fortifications were completed in 1249 to a design by Filippo Cinardo. In 1259 the wedding of Manfred to Elena Comnena was celebrated here.
In the Angevin period the castle became an administrative centre and royal residence; in 1533, under Ferdinando de Alarcón, it was adapted for firearms, with the thickening of the southern wing, the lowering of the towers and a spearhead-shaped bastion. Between 1586 and 1677 it housed the Regia Udienza (royal court) of the Terra di Bari. Between 1832 and 1844 it was converted into a provincial prison, which remained in operation until 1974.
Declared a national monument in 1936, the castle was restored from 1979 and opened to the public in 1998. Since 2014 it has been managed by the Ministry of Culture. On the ground floor a museum preserves stone and ceramic finds from the restoration excavations, while since October 2022 the Regina Margherita collection has been displayed on the second floor of the casemates; a multimedia and experiential route has also been announced.
Highlights
- Swabian fortress on the sea
- Museum of stone finds on the ground floor
- Regina Margherita collection in the casemates
- 16th-century spearhead-shaped bastion
- Close to the cathedral of Trani
Permanent exhibitions
- Museo lapideo – On the ground floor of the square bastion, stone and ceramic finds from the restoration excavations are displayed.
- Collezione Regina Margherita – Since October 2022 the second floor of the casemates has housed the Regina Margherita collection.
- Founded
- 1233
- Operated by
- Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Puglia (Ministero della Cultura)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 51,414
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
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| Reduced | €2young people aged 18 to 25 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s, in line with the rules of state museums. |
Free admission: Free admission on the first Sunday of the month (“Domenica al museo”).
Booking online is optional.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The website lists assistance for people with disabilities among its services, without further details.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The castle is a short distance from the cathedral, by the sea.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Marked routes, captions and exhibition spaces are listed among the services. A new multimedia and experiential route has been announced for June 2026. |
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