Rocca dei Rettori
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Archaeological excavations held during the 1998 restoration have proven that the area was used since prehistoric times: findings include a necropolis from the (7th-6th century BC), surmounted by Samnite tombs. The Samnites built here a rampart around the 4th century BC, and were the first to use the place as a defensive position. The Romans built here a bath building, known as Castellum aquae, carrying the water through an aqueduct from the Serino river.
The Lombards re-used defensive the location, and raised the eastern wall. In the 8th century, a Benedictine monastery was erected here. Starting from 771, during the rule of Duke Arechis II of Benevento, the monastery was united to a castle or fortified palace (Castrum vetus), which was enlarged around the 11th century. Subsequently, the edifice lived a period of semi-abandonment. In 1321 Pope John XXII asked the governor of the city, William of Balaeto, to restore the building as a residence for the papal rectors. The nuns were transferred to the monastery of San Pietro.
In the 16th century, the Rocca was enlarged. From 1586 it was increasingly used as a jail, which was active until 1865. After the 1702 earthquake, the edifice was partially rebuilt under design by Carlo Buratti.
