Castello di Lettere

The Castle of Lettere was constructed by the Duchy of Amalfi during the 10th century with the objective of defending its northern borders. It formed part of a network of fortifications that guaranteed the Amalfitans control of both sides of the Lattari mountains. The site continues to benefit from a magnificent panoramic location, which enabled it to exert control over the region extending from the port of Castellammare to the mouth of the Sarno river and the entire Gulf of Naples. Additionally, it dominated the Sarno Valley, which was under the influence of Vesuvius and the Sarno mountains, reaching as far as Pagani.

Since its foundation, the castle had the form of a fortified village with multi-storey houses, as evidenced by documents from 1030 and 1033. The construction of the fortress, which is now referred to as the castle, is likely associated with the establishment of a feudal lord who erected it as a place of residence within the walls and a symbol of his authority. The structure has a trapezoidal plan and incorporates four towers, the uppermost of which functions as a keep. Additionally, a cathedral was constructed within the walls, serving as the seat of a bishopric since 987. The attractive bell tower, embellished with grey tuff and yellow sandstone inlays in the shapes of stars, crosses and lozenges, was incorporated into this initial structure in the 12th century.
The Museo del Parco Archeologico del Castello di Lettere (Museum of the Archaeological Park of the Castle of Lettere) is currently being established within the Torre del Grano (Grain Tower), which was originally used as a storage room. The museum will house artefacts discovered during archaeological excavation campaigns conducted since 2007. These include ceramics, bronze objects and animal bones. The exhibits illustrate not only the village's diet and eating habits between the 10th and 16th centuries, but also elucidate the network of Mediterranean trade in which Lettere was embedded. This is evidenced by the presence of transport containers and glazed pottery from North Africa, Spain and Sicily, which were brought into the village via the routes operated by the Amalfitans.