This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

Rocca dei Rettori is a castle located in the highest point of Benevento’s old town, which is also known as Benevento’s castle. Nowadays, it hosts the offices of the province of Benevento and the historical section of the Sannio museum, which collect the documentation regarding local traditions and art. The construction of the castle started in 1320; it was used by pontifical governors till 1586 and then it became a prison in 1865.
The building is composed of two different areas: the corner tower and the pontifical governor’s palace, which has a rectangular plant with an indoor courtyard. The tower belongs to the Langobard period and it was the true castle (for this reason it is called Castrum novum), with a height of 28 meters and a polygonal plant. The governor’s palace (or Palatium), which has been modified many times, develops on three floors: the ground floor was occupied by prisons;  a double staircase leads to the first floor which is organised in wide rooms with wood ceilings; on the second floor there are watchtowers through which it is possible to access the terrace, from which it is possible to admire a splendid view on the mountain hollow and on monte Taburno.

THE GARDENS

The garden of the castle is located behind the building and it has become a public park. There are grassy meadows, sinuous walk ways, pines and palms. Numerous architectural fragments of the roman times and a lapidary are also present.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)