Castles

Castle of Monteroduni

The village (called Monteradone in the 12^th century and Rocce Radoboni and Monsrodunus a century later), located on the slopes of Mount Altone near the river Volturno, was built to control the passage along the ancient Via Latina and along the river. In 964 it was given to Count Landolfo. In 1064, at the death of Bernardo I and his sons, who were killed in a battle against the Normans, it came into the hands of the Counts of Molise. The village was destroyed by Moscaincervello, a follower of Henry VI, before it passed into the hands of the Counts of Celano (1202) who sided against Frederick II. In the following centuries it belonged to the Ardicourt, Evoli and d’Angiò families (Giovanna I d’Angiò held Monteroduni from 1345 to 1363).
The Pignatelli castle is of Longobard origin but was almost certainly restructured in the Norman period when four corner towers were added. Today it displays few of the characteristics of a military installation (ducts and cisterns), especially after the transformations in the middle of the 16^th century when the entire building was modified for residential functions. Inside the courtyard, which is not very large, a 16^th century staircase gives access to the upper floors and the main hall. The castle can also be accessed through a porta falsa (false door), so called because it exposed attackers to fire from the projecting turrets. Alongside the castle there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Michael Archangel, which preserves the coat of arms of the d’Angiò family, while another church of medieval origin (St. Mary in Altissimis) is located a short distance from the village.