Museo dell'Opera dell'Area Castello

About the museum

The castle of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi stands on the northernmost of the two hills on which the town developed. Included in the Lombard defensive system after the division of the Duchy of Benevento in 849, it controlled the Ofanto valley. In 1076 the Normans of Robert Guiscard expanded it into a larger military complex, with a square tower, a keep and a Romanesque cathedral built against the fortified structures.

In the following centuries the fortress passed to various lords. The Caracciolo family turned it into a Renaissance residence, and in the 18th century the Imperiali family adapted it as a noble residence. In the modern era it served as a courthouse and a prison. After the earthquake of 1980, restoration work and excavations led by Marcello Rotili uncovered the ancient Norman cathedral, which had been incorporated into the south-western wing of the building. Its remains now form the core of the Museo dell'Opera dell'Area Castello.

Highlights

• Remains of the former Norman cathedral (11th century)
• South-western wing of the castle
• Castle of Lombard origin, expanded by the Normans

Permanent exhibition

• Resti dell'antica cattedrale normanna – The structures of the 11th-century cathedral, discovered during excavations after the 1980 earthquake and incorporated into the south-western wing of the castle.

Visitors per year

approx. 1,200

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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