A LITTLE HISTORY

 

The history of the Castle of Dentex Frasso coincides with the history of the City of San Vito dei Normans. The construction of the Tower, the main nucleus of the castle is attributed to the Norman Bohemond (died 1111 and buried in Bitonto), when he was at war with his brother Roger on the domain of Puglia and Calabria. The tower has battlements on top, vents and drains, while internally spread over three floors, including the ground floor is the family chapel (the first parish church of San Vito), the first floor of a hall where once the lords held their provisions and a final plan that was sometimes used as a prison. The entrance portal of the chapel can be seen carved the coat of arms (a red snapper) with the family motto Dentice "Noli Me Tangere." Torre was born around the same time the "old town" of San Vito degli Schiavoni said previously due to settlements of Slavs. The area was rich in forests and fauna and it is likely that the principle of the tower was a hunting lodge. The first were the lords Sambiase until around 1400. They succeeded by Del Balzo-Orsini. So, for resale Tower came to Frederick I of Aragon, Prince of Altamura and San Vito, which first took over the palace in 1500 and in 1600 the Prince of Avetrana Giovanni Antonio Albrizio. In mid-seventeenth century, the feud became the property of Baron Ottavio Serra, who succeeded Joseph Belprato Marquis and later by marriage with Maria Francesca Caracciolo, current owners of Principles Dentice Frasso. The complex, once surrounded by a moat, has undergone continuous restoration work until the end of last century by the architect Gaetano Marchietzek Lecce executed on behalf of the then owner of Prince Louis Dentice Frasso. Main entrance of the castle consists of a pointed arch dating back to last restoration (1900).