Pappacoda Palace

Ancient bulwarks tell about eight centuries of raids and plunder.

The Pappacoda Mansion has been rebuilt and transformed over various centuries, from defensive tower to castle and then into Mansion for the nobility. This Mansion belongs to the history of Pisciotta and is surrounded by stories of feudal lords, governors, bishops as well as common people.

The earliest historical notes regarding the castle are around 1200.But probably the construction was earlier and goes back to a particular period of the Cilento when the coasts were often attacked by Saracen pirates and the feudatary lords built forts, towers and castles to defend and control the territory. As to our Mansion, it is possible to recognize the first nucleus, perhaps a tower, watching with attention the northwest angle.

The Normans were called to contrast the Saracens and changed the social and juridical order resembling the feudal system of Northern Europe. The territory was defended by forts and watchtowers. Along the coasts several villages were founded. The castle hosted Longobardi, Normans and Suevs as well as important families of the Sicilian and Neapolitan courts. So we find the nobles Caracciolo (1270),Sanseverino(1400),Pappacoda (1590),some of the most powerful families of the reign. They owned the feud and the castle which more and more assumed the aspect of a Mansion. The importance of this feud was shown by the fact that most of the nobility had lived for long periods in Pisciotta favouring the local economic activities.

The last feudataries, the Pappacodas,after getting marquises, they started to modify and embellish the building. And in fact, it turned out to be a noble Mansion.

The role of the castle as a defending fort is mentioned in a chronicle of 1640 referring to a raid by pirates who attacked Pisciotta but were repelled by a group of men headed by an outlaw who then was perdoned by the King.

During the dominion of the Pappacodas the castle was still the centre of the administrative and juridical life and a bulwark against raids. On August 3,1809 about a thousand of brigands tried to attack Pisciotta after having ordered, in vain, to surrender. After 5 days and a great deal of human losses they had to retreat.

With the Pappacoda feud there were many generations and the castle on one hand was their abode having as well magazines, an oil mill and stables, and on the other there were the judicial offices of the "Marquis Court" and the jail.

After the abolition of the Feudatary regime the Mansion remained property of the heirs of Prince Doria, husband of Giovanna Pappacoda. With the Dorias the building achieved its maximum architectural magnificence.

The heirs sold all the properties together with the Mansion and was then divided amongst private buyers.

Today for the people of Pisciotta remain the splendid rooms of the public library on the last floor.

Please go up slowly the large open air scales and admire the back of the village. Take a rest near the windows and balconies suspended above the sea and enjoy the imagination to be a noble or a common citizen who obtained shelter and protection in this castle.