The construction began in 1248 under emperor Frederic II of Swabia, as part of a project aiming at military control of the main in the way of communications that from the south of the country took to Germany.
The castle was built on a project of architect Richard from Lentini, with masons and workers that were called especially from Apulia, on the site where already existed a smaller fortification. The building has a square plan, with four towers at the corners and four more, of which two along the walls, and two, left over from the pre-existing fortress, in the center.