# Palazzo De Felice

- **Country:** Italy
- **Location Text:** Rosciano

Palazzo De Felice, also known as Torre e Palazzo de Felice, is a historic fortified baroque palace located in Rosciano within the Province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Situated on the north bank of the River Pescara atop a strategic hill, the site has served as a defensive position for over two thousand years, with its earliest foundations dating back to an ancient Roman fortification. The current main tower was constructed in the 11th century by the Normans during their conquest of Southern Italy. Locally referred to as the "Tower of the Paladins," the structure features a high base covered in river pebbles designed to prevent scaling, reflecting its original military purpose as a troop shelter and defensive stronghold.

The complex evolved significantly over the centuries, most notably with the addition of the rectangular Palazzo De Felice by the noble de Felice family in the 15th century. This later expansion was completed in the baroque style around the year 1600, introducing elegant architectural elements such as a wide flight of steps flanked by pilasters on the southern face. These additions created a beautiful interior with a large mezzanine floor and numerous rooms that contrast sharply with the building's rugged martial origins. As an ancestral home of the de Felice Duchi, the estate represents a unique blend of medieval fortification and refined residential architecture, showcasing the layered history of the region through successive generations of modification.

Today, the tower and palace are owned by the municipality of Rosciano rather than private hands. The site holds particular cultural significance due to Rosciano's substantial Arbëreshë community, an Albanian population that settled in the area during the eighteenth century. Reflecting this heritage, there are active plans to establish an internal museum dedicated to the Arbëreshë tradition within the castle walls. This future institution aims to highlight the local Byzantine influences, similar to those found in the nearby Villa Badessa church, ensuring the preservation and celebration of the unique cultural identity that has thrived around this ancient fortress for centuries.

![Photo of Palazzo De Felice](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Rosciano_%28PE%29_-_Palazzo_De_Felice_02.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_De_Felice (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)