Castle of Melfi, Italy

The Castle of Melfi is a medieval castle located on a hill overlooking the town of Melfi in region of Basilicata, southern Italy. The castle was built on the ruins of an earlier castle by Guglielmo d'Altavilla (later Count of Puglia) in 1042 probably as a simple rectangle with square towers and tower defending the main gate. The Castle of Melfi later became the favourite residence of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II who in 1231 issued there the Costitutiones Augustales (the Constitutions of Melfi). The castle went through some modifications and rebuildings under the Angevins and later by Doria family which changed it the 16th century into a manor house. Since 1976 the Castle of Melfi houses Museo Nazionale del Melfese and is open to the public.