Castles of Calabria
Ducal Castle - Corigliano (CS)
Castles of Calabria
Japanese version
Calabria カラブリア州の城 日本語PDFダウンロードはこちらから
A crossroads of Mediterranean cultures and peoples that have met from north to south, Calabria offers evidence of a defensive and perched past through the image of its most beautiful castles.
Although most Calabrian castles have ancient origins, since they were built on previous Byzantine castra or lookout points against pirates, the monumentality that still fascinates today is the result of the intervention of the Norman kings, followed by their successors Aragonesi, Swabians, Angevins and, finally, the great families of local feudal lords.
Visiting castles in Calabria means retracing some of the milestones of the urban phenomenon of fortification in southern Italy and in the Mediterranean in general during the Middle Ages. A phenomenon that here takes on its own characteristics, different from other regions.
Crucial stages in this fascinating history are, for example, the incursions of Arab and Saracen pirates (9th-16th centuries) on the Calabrian coasts, which forced the population of the marinas to retreat to the heights, where today the main Calabrian medieval villages (many of which are part of the national circuit The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy) stand.
Another decisive step in the history of Calabrian castles was the Frederician era, when Emperor Frederick II of Swabia initiated the construction of a series of monumental castles in Calabria and the rest of southern Italy (the so-called "Frederician castles"), the interpretation of which is still suspended between functional use (summer residences and hunting lodges) and mystery use (temples to guard the Holy Grail, places of initiation).
The defensive function of Calabrian castles was reinforced in the 16th century by King Charles V, who set up a sophisticated system of coastal watchtowers ("cavallare", i.e., equipped with a cavalier, or designed for lighting night fires and daytime smoke signals) that within twenty-four hours spread the alarm as far as Naples.
A journey among Calabria's castles is an evocative experience that ranges from inland fortresses (Sant'Aniceto Castle, Norman-Swabian Castle of Cosenza, Norman-Swabian Castle of Vibo Valentia, etc.) surrounded by mighty walls and drawbridges guarding the heights, to veritable sea fortresses (Frederician Castle of Roseto Capo Spulico, Aragonese Castle of Belvedere Marittimo, Ruffo Castle of Scilla, etc.), bulwarks defending the coastline.
Rich in history, legends and mysteries, Calabria's castles defy time and offer their spaces as venues for museums, exhibitions, re-enactments and a whole series of events that combine art, history and tourist itineraries all year round, for those who wish to discover the more unknown face of Calabria beyond the seaside offerings and mass circuits.
The Calabria of castles welcomes visitors who wish to discover them on their own, as part of a guided tour or along one of the many Paths of Calabria and historical-naturalistic treks that combine the beauty of the landscape with the more ancient identity of the places.
Top experiences
- Ducal Castle of Corigliano (CS)
Among the Calabrian castles not to be missed in the province of Cosenza there is the Ducal Castle of Corigliano. Built at the behest of Robert Guiscard in 1073, it is famous for its helicoidal staircase surrounded by frescoes that leads to a breathtaking viewpoint.
- Castle of Santa Severina (KR)
The Castle of Santa Severina, the symbol of the village of the same name in the province of Crotone (among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy), houses the Archaeological Museum of Santa Severina and the Medieval Festival, a historical re-enactment between May and June.
- Le Castella (KR)
The only Aragonese fortress above the water, among the iconic images of Calabria, the Le Castella complex in the Marine Protected Area of Isola Capo Rizzuto in the province of Crotone, tells of repressed assaults and legendary stories, such as that of the kidnapped child who later became the great pirate Occhialì.
- Murat Castle (VV)
The 15th-century Aragonese Castle of Pizzo Calabro, in the province of Vibo Valentia, is known as "Murat Castle" because it was here that the King of Naples Joachim Murat was imprisoned and shot (13 October 1815), whose remains are kept in the Church of San Giorgio. Every four years, the castle hosts a historical re-enactment of the event.
- Aragonese Castle of Reggio Calabria
Witness to an important cross-section of medieval Reggio Calabria, the Aragonese Castle of Reggio Calabria (9th-11th century) occupies the summit of the historic centre and hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events inside. Having survived numerous earthquakes, it offers one of the most beautiful panoramic viewpoints over the Strait of Messina.