Castello Tramontano

Castle Matera, Italy

The construction of these massive towers began in the early 1500s by the Count of Matera Gian Carlo Tramontano, born in S. Anastasia. Of Aragonese style, it was designed with the aim of defending the city along the most exposed side, but remained incomplete due to the killing of the Count, which took place during a violent popular uprising on 29 December 1514. The very high cost of the work, equal to over 25,000 ducats and the very low pay of 6 soldi a day, contributed to embittering the spirits of the people of Matera, who put an end to the abuses in one of the most violent pages of the city's history. The moral of this episode can be read in the motto on the city coat of arms, which reads "Bos lassus firmius figit pedem", literally "the tired ox sinks its leg more firmly" to signify the charge of violence that can manifest itself in a peaceful population, but tired of harassment.