In 1497, once that Gilberto of Brunswick, the Viceroy of Salento, Lecce and Duke and Earl of Matera, died in battle, the King of Naples Federico d'Aragona decided to sell the city of Matera to Giancarlo Tramontano, Master of the Mint of Naples. 
The impressive main body and the large lateral cylindrical towers, are, in reality, only a part of the outer wall that was supposed to enclose the residential building. 
The new Earl was hated both by the people, who suffered an excessively high tax burden, and by the barons, who saw him as a competitor in business in the cereals, silk and wool markets. 

Assaulted in the Cathedral, 29 December 1514, he tried to escape to the house but was killed with a shot in the head by a hatchet. The road where the massacre took place is said Via Riscatto (English: Redemption), to remember the sum paid by the people to obtain forgiveness of the King.