Le Castella Castle, Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Italy

The Aragonese Castle of Le Castella origins date back to 204 BC., when the military leader Hannibal sought refuge there during his retreat. The fortress never housed local nobility but served as a shelter for soldiers defending against invasions from the sea. It rests on foundations from the Magna Graecia period, and even today, you can observe the various architectural phases layered over time, with Normans, Swabians, Byzantines, Angevins, and Aragonese each adding to the sturdy defensive walls originally built by the Greeks.

The castle’s uniqueness comes from its location: perched on an islet connected to the coast by a narrow strip of land. Originally, Le Castella was not the only castle in the area, and the plural name hints at the presence of multiple fortifications.

Despite the damage caused by weather and fierce storms, the Aragonese Fortress retains an ancient village structure: a majestic cylindrical tower divided into three floors connected by a stone spiral staircase, and the manor around which imposing crenelated defensive walls rise. Almost completely restored, the castle features several rooms, including a video room, a photo room, and the 'Phrurion Room.' Inside, there are also remnants of a small chapel and a larger church.

User Reviews

Paula Rogers (6 months ago)
It was OK. Smallish but with a lot of history. Our guide was new, unsure of her content, and had way too many people in the group. I think we would have been better on our own, as there was plenty of signage

AL M (9 months ago)
Islington parking few blocks away from the Castle and the beach. Water was nice but not much shade outside of the beach rental umbrellas. Was certainly a nice place to see.

Flavia L (10 months ago)
Worth a visit , lovely bars and restaurants nearby. At night the castle glows.

Turi Galbraith (2 years ago)
I visited on a beautiful day, but unfortunately the castle wasn’t open, although you can still appreciate it from outside.

Christopher Pisano (2 years ago)
La costella is an interesting spot. The castle is very rustic and a cool spot to stop. They sell many great typical calabrian items. Worth the stop if you atr near.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Mark1792

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.

Le Castella Castle

Address

Details

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle