The history of Masseria Petrarolo

A fortified farmhouse

Petrarolo’s history reaches back to the seventeenth century, and possibly earlier. The chapel is associated with 1689; the main house may predate it.

Defensive walls, narrow openings and a bridge recall a time when the farmhouse offered protection as well as shelter.

A place of refuge

The original drawbridge could isolate the central house. Trapdoors and removable ladders provided retreat to the upper rooms. The rooftop bell and warning lanterns formed part of the estate’s defences.

The masseria sheltered farming families as well as its landowners.

The Petrarolo name

In the eighteenth century, the estate belonged to the financier Francesco Petrarolo. A carved coat of arms, with a cherub and pomegranates, preserves that connection.

The chapel

The chapel holds a painting of the Madonna and Child, traditionally linked to local devotion. Its presence connects the house to the community beyond its walls.