A national monument, the Ducal Castle or Ducal Palace, which includes the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is settled on a dominating hill in a fascinating atmosphere hung out of time from the Norman age till today and preserves and transmits memories of the civil, cultural and social history of Casoli. Built in the XI century as a fortified defensive outpost, the mighty Castle and its pentagonal tower, its most ancient part, has been changed several times along the years: defence posts, house rooms and a quadrangular yard have been added, as well as the original palatine chapel of the current Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The changes were connected to the succession of the feudal family owners from Orsini in the XIV century, to D’Aquino in XVII century and up to Masciantonio in the XX century, when it was changed into a noble mansion.

During World War II the Ducal Castle was used by both the German and the Allied armies as a lookout. In its “Room” dedicated to the English Major Lionel Wigram on 5 December 1943 Ettore Troilo established the “Brigata Maiella”, the only partisan group decorated with a “Gold medal for military value”.

The national monumental complex has been a property of the Municipality since 1982 and, along the years, has been restored as a museum of local arts and traditions. The “Room of Silence” hosts a permanent exhibition on the protagonists of the “Cenacolo Abruzzese”, habitual guests of the Honourable Pasquale Masciantonio, such as D’Annunzio, Michetti, Tosti, Barbella, Scarfoglio and Serao. In the “D’Annunzio Room”, the visionary poet was often hosted and his epigrams are still on the walls. The big room is entitled to “Pascal”, the nickname of Mr. Masciantonio and finally there is an Archaeological Museum with sculpture remains from the Italic town of Cluviae, from the nearby hamlet of Piano Laroma.

[Credits | Text: Ottavio Di Renzo De Laurentis | Translation: Mirella Rapa | Voice and music: Studio Qreate | Photo: Laura Di Biase]