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It has always been believed that the Norman castle of Terracena was one of the first interventions, together with the cathedral, planned by Roberto il Guiscardo.
It has always been believed that the Norman castle of Terracena was one of the first interventions, together with the cathedral, planned by Roberto il Guiscardo.
Guglielmo di Puglia recalls that Guiscardo, in a lower area than the Lombard castle, «inferior situ fit impregnabile castrum… quo sibi subiecti valeant consist tuti». A more precise description is found in Amato di Montecassino: "en lieuz competens fist merveilous palaiz sur li mur de la citè, si que li estoient dedens et defors de la terre".
Guglielmo di Puglia recalls that Guiscardo, in a lower area than the Lombard castle, «inferior situ fit impregnabile castrum… quo sibi subiecti valeant consist tuti». A more precise description is found in Amato di Montecassino: "en lieuz competens fist merveilous palaiz sur li mur de la citè, si que li estoient dedens et defors de la terre".
A dispute in 1150 involving a certain Landolfo and some presbyters of the Agro Nocerino, discussed "in Curia eiusdem Domini Regis, ... in Palazzo Terracinae, dum praedictum rex in eodem Palatio moraretur". On the other hand, the dispute between the abbot of Montecassino and a royal executioner dates back to 1155, composed by Guglielmo "magnificent rege residing in Palatio Terracinae, urbis Salerni".
A dispute in 1150 involving a certain Landolfo and some presbyters of the Agro Nocerino, discussed "in Curia eiusdem Domini Regis, ... in Palazzo Terracinae, dum praedictum rex in eodem Palatio moraretur". On the other hand, the dispute between the abbot of Montecassino and a royal executioner dates back to 1155, composed by Guglielmo "magnificent rege residing in Palatio Terracinae, urbis Salerni".
Richard of San Germano places Frederick II's passage to Salerno in 1226, who "came in Terram Laboris et, relicta apud Salernum in Castello Marcina and his empress, ipse in Apuliam redit celer". But already around the middle of the thirteenth century. the building seems to have lost its function of fortress and royal residence, only to be completely disappeared in 1261, if it is true that in that year Pope Alexander IV would have donated the land on which it was built to the monastery of San Benedetto.
Richard of San Germano places Frederick II's passage to Salerno in 1226, who "came in Terram Laboris et, relicta apud Salernum in Castello Marcina and his empress, ipse in Apuliam redit celer". But already around the middle of the thirteenth century. the building seems to have lost its function of fortress and royal residence, only to be completely disappeared in 1261, if it is true that in that year Pope Alexander IV would have donated the land on which it was built to the monastery of San Benedetto.
The cause of the destruction of the complex was related to the occurrence of a seismic event. Earthquakes documented with certainty are that of Irpinia in 1180, which caused great destruction in Naples, and that of Bisaccia (AV) in 1198. However, the aforementioned news of Frederick II's visit, refers to a building that is still functioning and sufficiently intact to allow worthy hospitality to the empress. What is interesting to underline here is rather the implicit meaning in the location of the functions assigned to both Castel Terracena and the building incorporated into Palazzo Fruscione, a location that underlies the interpretation of the urban fabric in a different perspective.
The cause of the destruction of the complex was related to the occurrence of a seismic event. Earthquakes documented with certainty are that of Irpinia in 1180, which caused great destruction in Naples, and that of Bisaccia (AV) in 1198. However, the aforementioned news of Frederick II's visit, refers to a building that is still functioning and sufficiently intact to allow worthy hospitality to the empress. What is interesting to underline here is rather the implicit meaning in the location of the functions assigned to both Castel Terracena and the building incorporated into Palazzo Fruscione, a location that underlies the interpretation of the urban fabric in a different perspective.
Castel Terracena is located in a strategic area of the Orto Magno, straddling the well-known Cetrangolo tower of the Lombard period. The entrance to this sector was ensured by crossing the ancient Porta Elina whose passage, it is assumed, has been moved further south - Porta Nova, at the beginning of Via dei Mercanti - precisely to increase the space designated for the construction of the Norman castle. The whole fortified complex was therefore located at a junction point of important routes and at an elevation that, compared to the city, represents a choice of synthesis of what had already been the separation of functions and symbolic values made by Arechi II between the Turris Maior and the princely Curtis. Castel Terracena appears to be both a fortification and a residence, but it is above all, together with the Cathedral, the very symbol of the Norman domination of Salerno. If the location within the Orto Magno area was dictated by the desire to build a strongly characterized nucleus in the heart of the new urban expansion, to be physically opposed to the Lombard headquarters of power, located in the north-western sector, the construction of the castle, close to the walls, arose from strategic needs of a military and administrative nature.
Castel Terracena is located in a strategic area of the Orto Magno, straddling the well-known Cetrangolo tower of the Lombard period. The entrance to this sector was ensured by crossing the ancient Porta Elina whose passage, it is assumed, has been moved further south - Porta Nova, at the beginning of Via dei Mercanti - precisely to increase the space designated for the construction of the Norman castle. The whole fortified complex was therefore located at a junction point of important routes and at an elevation that, compared to the city, represents a choice of synthesis of what had already been the separation of functions and symbolic values made by Arechi II between the Turris Maior and the princely Curtis. Castel Terracena appears to be both a fortification and a residence, but it is above all, together with the Cathedral, the very symbol of the Norman domination of Salerno. If the location within the Orto Magno area was dictated by the desire to build a strongly characterized nucleus in the heart of the new urban expansion, to be physically opposed to the Lombard headquarters of power, located in the north-western sector, the construction of the castle, close to the walls, arose from strategic needs of a military and administrative nature.
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