Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Manfredonia
Manfredonia
The Museum
The Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Manfredonia, housed in the eponymous Swabian Castle, holds the most renowned and significant archaeological artefacts discovered in the Capitanata and Gargano regions, including the Daunian steles.
The History
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Manfredonia
The collections are displayed inside the Swabian-Angevin Castle, the manor erected in the 13th century by Manfred of Swabia, son of emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, to defend the new city built for the inhabitants of nearby Siponto, made uninhabitable by expanding marshland and the effects of wars.
The Building
Castello di Manfredonia
In the Angevin period, the tower topped structure assumed a uniform appearance and a more complex layout, with a high curtain wall enclosing a quadrangular floor plan. In the 15th century, the Aragonese added a second outer defence wall to the fortress, joining the corners with four round bastions. During the 16th century, the west bastion was included in a pentagonal plan structure named after a bas-relief illustrating a scene of the Annunciation, visible on the outer walls of the bulwark.
The Collection
Besides housing archaeological artefacts, valuable evidence of the existence of ancient Dauniae populations, the Museum’s purpose is to emphasise the region’s historical heritage, going beyond a mere celebration of the region’s past to focus on the civic duty of critical awareness and education. As a result, with insightful planning and an educational approach, archaeology is made accessible to the public in general, with a special focus on young visitors.
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Manfredonia Castle
Inner west side seen from Piazza d’Armi.
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Daunian stele
Detail of a Daunian stele in the Museum, an archaeological artefact dating back to the 7th-6th century BC.
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Manfredonia Castle
Manfredonia Castle: detail of the north side, Torrione del Fico or dell’Arcangelo
Address
Corso Manfredi, s.n.c.
71043 Manfredonia
Ownership
Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities
Tipology
No profit/donation museum, gallery
Info
Director: Annalisa Treglia
+39 0884 587838
drm-pug.museomanfredonia@beniculturali.it