Castles

Castle of Longano

Longano is located on an elevated and well-protected position on the Matese highlands. The town, squeezed between the mountains, has an elongated shape. History records describe Longano (Langaria) as a feud surrendered by the Angevins to Bertrando Bucca in 1269, and feudal property transfers involving the D’Evoli, Ruffo and Spinelli families. The castle has a commanding view of the small town, which still preserves the distinctive traits of a medieval settlement. Recent excavations have unearthed some cisterns and an underground walkway. Barely visible traces of what was probably an enceinte allow us to guess at what might have been the layout of the outer curtain walls of the castle. Of the two surviving towers, the tallest displays a clearly visible reinforcement of the original wall by a supporting jacket. Interpretation of the architectural remains is not easy because many parts of the structure have either collapsed or been removed. There are interesting remains of wall sections with holes designed to house wooden bars.