Castello De Falconibus

Castello De Falconibus is situated in the municipality of Pulsano, Italy. Its origins trace back to a single tower constructed during the medieval period by local inhabitants who sought a secure refuge from frequent Saracen pirate raids. This earliest structure, originally called the Torre Quadrata or Torre Massima, faced the main square and initially served as a hunting lodge before becoming a defensive shelter around the year 1100.

In the centuries that followed, the partially ruined tower came into the possession of the De Falconibus family. This noble lineage expanded the site by adding four more towers of differing shapes, transforming the modest tower into a fortified complex. By 1274, the castle and its lands were under the rule of the Sambiasi family, and by the mid-14th century, it passed to F. dell’Antognietta. Subsequently, Ercole Petugy acquired the fortress and undertook restoration work on the original tower.

The castle suffered destruction in 1388 but was rebuilt starting in 1430 by the De Falconibus family, who completed the reconstruction five years later. This extensive renewal established the fortress’s present form and secured the family name’s association with it. An underground passage, now sealed, once linked the castle to the nearby Castello Muscettola and extended toward the sea, possibly providing a secret route for escape or supply.

Later on, ownership transferred to the Muscettola family. Under their stewardship, the castle was further fortified by the addition of a moat and a drawbridge, enhancing its defensive capabilities. In the early 1800s, the fortress played a small military role when three cannons stationed there were removed by Joachim Murat, the King of Naples, and redeployed to defend the city of Taranto during conflict with Spanish forces.

By 1819, Giovanni Muscettola leased out the area surrounding the moat to local residents for use as gardens, a distinctive arrangement that contributed to parts of the castle being incorporated into private properties. In the early 20th century, following the death of the last male heir of the Muscettola family, the castle was purchased by Giovanni Giannone, who generously donated it to the local community. Since then, the site has served multiple cultural functions, including hosting art exhibitions, municipal council meetings, and for several years, a seasonal living nativity scene.

Throughout its history, the castle has preserved heraldic emblems belonging to the De Falconibus and Muscettola families, alongside fragments of painted decorations and stone relief carvings, bearing witness to its noble heritage and evolving role in the town’s life.