Castropignano’s Castello d’Evoli, situated on a rocky ridge overlooking the Biferno valley, is one of the most fascinating examples of fortified architecture in Molise. Rising in Lombard times on an ancient Samnite fortification, the castle has a quadrangular plan and is inaccessible from three sides, a strategic position that made it a stronghold of primary importance.
Initially separated from the town by a moat, later filled in, the castle was strengthened by the Normans in the 11th century to guard the valley and the Castel di Sangro-Lucera sheep-track, a vital artery for transhumance and the local herding economy. In the 14th century, Duke Giovanni D’Evoli expanded the complex, adding a pentagonal tower on the southeastern side. In 1683, Duke Domenico D’Evoli transformed the ancient fortress into a stately residence, incorporating the old church of San Martino as well.
The coat of arms of the D’Evoli family, which is still visible, depicts three towers enclosed in a wall, flanked by the letters C and P, the initials of Castrum Piniani, the original name of Castropignano. The entrance to the castle features a large guard arch and a sloping ramp with transverse rises, designed to facilitate the ascent of horses and beasts of burden. Details such as the crossbows and the remains of the drawbridge can still be seen today.
Despite its current decay, the roofless ruins still tell of the past grandeur of the manor, which was abandoned after 1821, when the D’Evoli family, overwhelmed by the end of the feudal system, was forced to sell the property.
The castle is also linked to a poignant folk legend: it tells of Fata, a young shepherdess who, in order to escape ius primae noctis, threw herself from a rocky outcrop now known as the “Cantone della Fata,” northeast of the fortress.
Amid history, myths and breathtaking scenery, Castropignano Castle continues to enchant visitors, silent guardian of centuries of life and memory.