In 1278, Charles I of Anjou ordered the fortification of the walls of Mola di Bari and built a castle to defend the coastline between Bari and Polignano from increasingly frequent pirate raids. The Angevin architects Pietro d'Angicourt and Giovanni di Toul were chosen for the work. The castle was renovated in 1508, following the siege of the Venetians, and again in 1530 by the military architect Evangelista Menga da Copertino, after Charles V took possession of the complex. The castle retained its defensive function until the 18th century, and was subsequently abandoned in the 19th century before being adapted for use as the municipal slaughterhouse. In the 20th century further ill-advised building work saw the addition of a cinema to the complex, which was later demolished, as well as some private residences. The current building has a square layout featuring an inner courtyard. The corners of the castle end in the jutting points over battered walls, reminiscent of a clothes iron. The western point forms a rough pentagon as a result of rebuilding after the Venetian siege of 1508. The renovation under Evangelista Menga da Copertino involved the incorporation of the original Angevin structure inside new walls separated from the original walls by a layer of earth. This layer would have lessened the impact of artillery attacks, rendering the fortification impregnable.