Palazzo Imperiali-Filotico

Palazzo Imperiali-Filotico, known locally as il Castello, is an eighteenth-century residence built on the site of Manduria's former Norman manor. Its restrained facade is distinguished by a long wrought-iron balcony known as a petto d'oca.

Why it matters

The palace reflects Manduria's development under the Imperiali family, who held the fief from 1572. Its scale and position in the town centre made it a defining residence of the local aristocracy.

What to notice

The quadrangular building has a relatively austere exterior, with the iron balcony providing its most distinctive ornament. A large portal opens to a central atrium and monumental staircase. The palace stands in the former Porta Grande district, outside the old walls.

Context and history

Michele III Imperiali commissioned the palace between 1717 and 1719 on the site of the former Norman manor. The national tourism portal attributes the design to Lecce architect Mauro Manieri, although the attribution is debated. The Filotico family inherited the palace in 1827, giving it the name it bears today.