Le Castella

The castle stands on a rocky islet a short way off the Ionian shore, connected by a low isthmus that is walkable in calm conditions, so from the beach it appears to float. Fortification here goes back to earlier periods, and Pliny mentions a settlement, but the present structure is largely fifteenth and sixteenth century, built under Aragonese rule as part of the coastal defences against raiding. A keep and curtain walls survive with a courtyard inside, restored and open to visitors. The surrounding sea is part of the Capo Rizzuto marine protected area, one of the largest in Italy.

Background

Le Castella belongs to the comune of Isola di Capo Rizzuto in the province of Crotone and lies where the Gulf of Squillace ends to the east, at an elevation of 11 m, with a population of 1103. Archaeological evidence points to settlement in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. The Romans later founded a colony of about 3,000 settlers, the first stable settlement, named Castra. The place was abandoned by royal order in 1644. People gradually returned from the late 17th century, and the fortress gave shelter to those living nearby. Land reforms brought new building in the 20th century, and in the 1960s film crews arrived, among them the makers of Mario Monicelli's For Love and Gold.

Source: Wikipedia, "Le Castella"

What to look for

• The island fortress - a castle on a rock islet joined by a low isthmus.
• The keep and walls - restored Aragonese defences with a courtyard.
• The marine reserve - Capo Rizzuto's protected waters around it.
• The beach view - the castle seen from the shore at close range.

When to go

May to September; the castle keeps longer hours in summer and reduced ones in winter. The isthmus can be washed over in rough weather.

Good to know

The interior is largely bare stone with limited interpretation. The village around it is a small modern resort. August is crowded.

Nearby

Crotone lies north; the Sila park is inland.