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Still under construction, on a large public area, “Torre di Belloluogo urban park” features a historic-artistic monument dating back to, at least, the XIV century and the time of Maria d’Enghien, the legendary Countess of Lecce and Queen of Naples.

For many centuries, Belloluogo Tower has retained its ancient artistic, environmental and landscape value. It stands on a limestone bank and is surrounded by a vast moat filled with spring waters in all seasons. Inside, it features several rooms and an interesting frescoed chapel.
The frescoes, created at end of the 14th century, portray the life of Saint Mary Magdalene, the four evangelists, a blessing Christ and seven prophets.

At the end of the 14th century, the tower was enriched by a small apsidal chapel, located on the first floor, with a lunette vault painted in blue. In the ten scenes, arranged on the walls, the “Story of the Magdalene” is portrayed in a sequence, as this very cult was introduced in the Kingdom of Naples by the Angevins.

The tower used to house the local Mint, while a bear was kept in the moat for some time, as the heraldic symbol of the Orsini del Balzo residence.
Around the tower, there used to be large park of 99 acres, partly reserved to private and public use; it was also used for fairs, private functions, markets and leisure walks.
Between 1458 and 1461, the tower served as a prison and still retains some of “lamentations” of its “guests” chiselled on the walls of the fortress.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)