A historic symbol of Pulsano, it stands in the center of the town with its square, always the main point of reference for the community. The Castle of Pulsano is commonly called De Falconibus after a noble family originating from Bisceglie and present in these lands since the 14th century. Its construction began in 1430 by Marino De Falconibus, a prominent figure of the feudal system in Taranto. Through this new fortification, built on a pre-existing square tower from the Norman period, the so-called Casale di Pulsano, open and undefended, was transformed into Terra, a protected settlement, surrounded and defended by walls. The De Falconibus family lived in the castle until 1560, including notable figures such as Cosma, Raffaele, and finally Giovanni Antonio, one of the two Taranto captains who took part in the infamous battle of Otranto in 1480.
In 1617, the noble Muscettola family, of Neapolitan origins, acquired the lands of Pulsano, Leporano, Torricella, and Monacizzo. Francesco Muscettola, the second prince of Leporano from 1646 to 1675, along with his second wife Lucrezia Caracciolo, resided in the castle, making significant modifications still visible today. These include the construction of a new entrance gate on the west side, corresponding to the current one, and a connecting room with a balcony between the grand hall of the square tower and the rest of the master's house, embellished with fireplaces and frescoes, of which only minimal geometric and floral traces remain, depicting a biblical episode, specifically the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and finally a Christ Pantocrator inside a medallion.
Developed on two floors, with perimeter walls made of carparo stone and battlements on the ramparts, the castle has two round towers and three square ones, the one overlooking the current square being used as an information and control center for the local defense system and being in direct visual communication with Torre Castelluccia on the coast. On the first floor of the aforementioned main tower, you can see a ribbed vault with lunettes and arches, with the coat of arms of the De Falconibus barons sculpted in the center. With Nicolò Sergio, son of Francesco, the Muscettola family moved to their new grand palace in Leporano, and the Pulsano castle was converted into a food warehouse until 1912 when the Municipality of Pulsano acquired it for the sum of 12,000 lire to use it as the seat of the municipal offices. After being the administrative and political headquarters of the town for decades, the building now houses the Tourist Information Office (IAT), the Museum of Peasant Civilization, and various cultural events.
