Nicastro Castle, Lamezia Terme, Italy

Nicastro's origins trace back to the 9th century, when Calabria was part of the Byzantine Empire, when a fortress called Neo Castrum ('New Castle') was created. In 1057, the area was conquered by the Normans, but Nicastro revolted against Robert Guiscard and his brother Roger. Having dominated the revolt, the new nobiliary had the castle built, which was restored in the 13th century by Frederick II of Swabia. It served as the place of imprisonment of Frederick II's son Henry.

The castle was destroyed by the disastrous earthquake of 1638 and lies today in ruins.

User Reviews

Céline Timmers (6 months ago)
beautiful castle but it seems to be closed for an undecided period, a shame :(

Saul Macys (8 months ago)
Closed for a long time.

Gin (8 months ago)
It looks stunning but seems like it's closed forever. All gates were closed and overgrown.

adriana bautista (12 months ago)
Long way up and it is not open anymore

daniel Zongrone (2 years ago)
A Castle ruin to discover

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Ninara

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The Church of the Holy Cross

The church of the former Franciscan monastery was built probably between 1515 and 1520. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma. The church stands by the small stream of Raumanjoki (Rauma river).

The exact age of the Church of the Holy Cross is unknown, but it was built to serve as the monastery church of the Rauma Franciscan Friary. The monastery had been established in the early 15th century and a wooden church was built on this location around the year 1420.

The Church of the Holy Cross served the monastery until 1538, when it was abandoned for a hundred years as the Franciscan friary was disbanded in the Swedish Reformation. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church in 1640, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire.

The choir of the two-aisle grey granite church features medieval murals and frescoes. The white steeple of the church was built in 1816 and has served as a landmark for seafarers.

Nicastro Castle

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