Architetture rurali fortificate, paesaggio e insediamenti in Capitanata (FG) tra Medioevo ed Età Moderna. Il caso di Ponte Albanito

Starting from the 12th century, in Apulia and Southern Italy, the masseria emerged as a rural settlement model designed for agro-pastoral exploitation. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, these structures incorporated noble residences, chapels, and defensive architectures. Later, with the establishment of the Dogana della Mena delle Pecore (1447), the masseria system became a defining feature of the Apulian landscape, leaving traces still visible today. This contribution examines the so-called Castello dei Diavoli in Ponte Albanito (FG), identified with the Domus Pontis Albaneti, listed among the 28 domus of Capitanata in the Statutum de reparatione castrorum (1241-1246). This fortified building, previously understudied, reveals a complex architectural stratification. Research suggests an original core from the Frederician period, later expanded for defensive purposes and linked to the agricultural-herding system of the Modern Age. The study is part of a broader research project on the rural heritage of Capitanata, which is often overlooked and abandoned, despite its historical significance and potential as a territorial resource.