Chadra Castle in Francofonte
The Chadra Castle in Francofonte, now in ruins, was originally a fortified baglio.
It is located north-east of Francofonte and was built in 1307 by the miles Giovanni De Lamia. At that time the territory surrounding the castle was disputed between the Mortillaro and De Lamia families, and only in 1309 the latter obtained possession of the entire territory. Following the devastating earthquake of 1693, the entire structure was razed to the ground.
Located in a bend of the Canale stream, the castle was protected on two opposite sides by the course of the Canale stream and on the remaining two by two parallel ditches.
It is still possible today to identify the ruins of the large mastra tower, around which the walls of a fortified courtyard extend. The walls also had crenellated patrol walkways, visible today only for a few short stretches. Of the main building today only large stumps remain, from which it is only possible to reconstruct the original appearance in broad terms.
