Melfi, first capital during the Norman reign

If you’re passionate about medieval history, you cannot miss visiting this city with its Norman castle, the 11th century cathedral and the rock church of Santa Margherita.

From the arrival of the Normans in Italy, Melfi became the logistical base from which this line of Nordics, led by Roberto il Guiscardo, conquered the whole of southern Italy and bringing the entire territory together under the same crown until it was divided between the Byzantines and the Lombards. Frederick II of Sweden frequently stayed at this castle and it was from here that he enacted the Melfi Constitution in 1231, laws which recognised womens’ rights, which was an unknown and unheard of thing at the time. In the woods surrounding Melfi, that Frederick II loved to hunt with a falcon. In short, Melfi is a city clinging to the Appenines where you can trace the threads of history that twine the region together. Inside the castle, we will visit the archeological museum, which conserves the Sarcophagus of Rapolla, which dates back to the 2nd century AD. From the castle, we head to the "Santa Maria Assunta" cathedral, which dates back to 1056, and then to the crypt inside the Church of Santa Margherita, a rock church that contains perfectly preserved frescoes inside. One of the best frescoes in the crypt, which stands out from all the others, is the "Warning of the Dead", which seems to present Frederick II in falconer clothes.

Sarcofago di Rapolla

Chiesa rupestre di S.Margherita

Technical info

This information is of a general nature. We can vary the conditions according to your needs.

Duration: 2 hours
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Availability: All year
Animals permitted: Yes
Suited to children: Yes
Recommended gear: Wear comfortable shoes. During summer, we recommend that you bring with you a hat/cap, a bottle of water and sunscreen. .
Servizi esclusi: gli ingressi opzionali ai musei
Meeting point: Largo Abele Mancini