Castello Episcopio: The Historic Episcopal Castle of Grottaglie

Visitor Information

Google Rating: 4.3

Popularity: Low

Google Maps: View on Google Maps

Official Website: www.comune.grottaglie.ta.it

Country: Italy

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Castello Episcopio is located in the town of Grottaglie in present-day Italy. Its origins are tied to the medieval era, specifically the late 14th century, when the local bishopric exerted significant influence in the region. Construction of the castle’s main tower was commissioned by Archbishop Giacomo d’Atri, an important religious figure who also ordered the building of defensive city walls and a primary church for Grottaglie.

Initially, the castle was composed of the central keep and an adjoining eastern wing. Over the ensuing centuries, this complex underwent various expansions and modifications that reflected changing architectural styles and functional needs. Among these transformations was the addition of a Baroque-style façade, indicating a later phase of renovation and aesthetic update.

Throughout its history, the Castello Episcopio stood as the residence and administrative center for the bishops of Taranto, symbolizing their feudal jurisdiction over the area. This ecclesiastical authority persisted until the 20th century, when in the early 1980s the castle passed from church to municipal ownership. The local government undertook further restoration, adapting the building to serve cultural and artistic purposes within the community.

Remains

The site consists primarily of a stone-built castle centered around a rectangular keep rising three stories tall, reaching more than 28 meters in height. This central tower, known as a mastio or donjon, was constructed to function as a fortified residence and observation point. It includes four intermediate floors, providing both defensive capabilities and living space.

The castle lies near Grottaglie’s historic district known as the Ceramics Quarter, an area steeped in craft tradition. Within the castle grounds, former stables have been repurposed to house the Museo della Ceramica di Grottaglie. This museum showcases an extensive collection of ceramics, spanning from the 8th century BCE to contemporary times, sourced from both private owners and public archives. Displayed items cover a range of ceramic arts including archaeology-related finds, traditional pottery, modern creations, majolica (tin-glazed earthenware), and nativity scenes crafted from ceramic materials.

One particularly distinguished artifact visible in the courtyard is a vase painted with a striking blood-red ox motif, a decorative piece that adds to the site’s cultural richness. The castle’s architectural fabric reveals traces of its layered history through the combination of medieval defensive structures and later Baroque embellishments, preserving its role as a palimpsest of Grottaglie’s past.