On the eastern tip of the Squillace Gulf, Le Castella (also known as punta delle Castella) is a hamlet of Isola di Capo Rizzuto (Crotone), 10km away. One of the most popular Ionian coastal destinations in Calabria, it is a place where beach, Mediterranean undergrowth and crystal-clear sea come together. A small borgo stands on a promontory.
The hamlet’s identifying symbol, the ancient Aragonese fortress, dominates the bay from an islet connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land, in the Protected Marine Area of Capo Rizzuto. The original structure of the fortification dates to the defensive system created by the Angevin dynasty in the 13th century, it became Aragonese property at the end of 15th century. In the 1500s, the Carafa family built the quadrangular bastions following the Spanish model. The tower has three storeys connected by a spiral staircase and a cavity at its base for collecting rainwater. Inside the fortress are the remains of a small village with workshops and the small Aragon-era chapel, known as the “cappella del borgo”.
Fondazione Calabria Film Commission
Cittadella Regione Calabria — Località Germaneto — 88100 Catanzaro
Phone: +39 0961 853836
Email: info@calabriafilmcommission.it
