Norman Stone Castles (2)

In the lowlands the standard form of castle was the castrum, usually on the outskirts of towns or villages: these were initially strongholds for troops. The earliest examples were first Scribla, built by Guiscard, and later San Marco in Calabria. The quadriburgium was a four-sided building with corner towers: many have been overbuilt so as to incorporate the Norman castle, for example thae palace at Larino. The term castellum could mean strongpoint outside a settlement or a light structure placed against a besieged gate, or later a citadel built within a burgh.