Castello di Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi

The Castle of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi stands on the northernmost hill of the two hills on which the town spreads.

Following the divisio ducatus of 849, by which the Duchy of Benevento led by Radelchi and the Principality of Salerno under the command of Siconolfo were split, the castle became part of the latter's defence system and fell under the gastaldate of Conza with the function of protecting the Ofanto valley that connected the Byzantine domains of Apulia with the lands of Irpinia.

In 1076, it came under the Norman rule of Robert Guiscard, who transformed the Lombard fortress into a more articulated military structure with the construction of the quadrangular tower, donjon, related defensive works and the adjacent Romanesque cathedral.
During the 13th century, it experienced a rapid succession of lords from the Duke of Montecalvo Giovanni Gagliardi to the Count of Bagnoli Goffredo Iamvilla.
The most important of these was Ladislaus I of Anjou, who used it to control the transit routes between Apulia and Campania, confirming the fundamental role of its strategic position.
The conversion of the Counts Caracciolo of Naples into a stately home in Renaissance style was initiated by them. As recorded in an archive document dated 1555, they commissioned a certain Maestro Amato de Mayurno to construct a wing attached to the donjon and a cavallerizza.
In the eighteenth century, the property was owned by the Imperiali family, a noble family of Genoese origin. It remained in their possession until the end of feudal rule in 1806. A significant refurbishment of the edifice was undertaken, transforming it into a stately home.

Upon its return to the public domain, the building was used as the seat of the district court and prison.
During the restoration work that followed the 1980 earthquake, archaeological investigations conducted under the direction of Marcello Rotili revealed the existence of the ancient Norman cathedral, which had been completely incorporated into the southwest wing of the castle.