A Journey through Italy: one photo every day #41 - TORREMAGGIORE [ENG/ITA]

Hello everyone,
I began a Photo Journey through Italy. I will post one photo every day with a little note of explanation.
I hope you like it!

Torremaggiore is a town in the province of Foggia, in the Southern Italian region of Puglia. It's famous for its castle built during the reign of Frederick II, now called Castle of the Dukes of Sangro. It is of a quadrangular shape with four round towers and it remained the same up to the present day.

The historic centre, almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1627, still keeps unchanged the medieval charm and the elegant military architecture, with palazzo ducale, an extension of the former Norman castle, of which today it is still possible to see the stunning keep (Maschio) and the four circular towers with merlons and embrasures, and the ruins of the Swabian castle.

Built as a defensive stronghold in the Norman era, the Ducal Castle has been transformed several times over the years until gaining its current Renaissance appearance. Declared a National Monument in 1902, the manor has the shape of an irregular quadrilateral with six towers, of which the four angular ones are castellated and the other two are quadrangular.

The bell towers of the elegant religious architecture stand out amid the alleys, such as the churches of Santa Maria della Fontana, Santa Maria degli Angeli and of Carmine.

An interesting place to visit near Torremaggiore are the Castel Fiorentino remains. Castel Fiorentino was a fortified city that was abandoned in the XV century. Legend has it was here that Frederick II met his death in 1250.

Thing to see: The historical center, The Ducal Castle, Mother Church of St. Nicholas, the Church of Santa Maria della Strada, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Fontana, the Church of the Madonna di Loreto, the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the church of Carmine, the Castle of "Fiorentino".