Il castello di Pesculum e il suo ruolo nell’organizzazione difensiva dell’Alto Sangro

The historical events that marked the Alta Val di Sangro, in Abruzzo, during the 11th century led to the construction of strategic fortifications such as the castle of Barrea and the Rocca Intramonti. This was also due to the revitalization of the ancient itinera callium in the Norman-Swabian age, connected to the revival of transhumance. The fortification of Pesculum seems to fully belong to this phenomenon. Already documented in 1150, it is strategically posi- tioned to control the valley and the sheep track that spread along it. The structure shows an initial construction phase that has structural and typological similarities with the nearby castles of the 11th century. In the mid-15th century, under Aragonese control, there was a general reorganization of the sheep tracks by Alfonso I of Aragon. The fortification of Pesculum, at the beginning of the new track Pescasseroli-Candela, was expanded with the addition of a new enclosure. The dating is also confirmed by the similarities with the Aragonese expansion of the castle of Barrea.