Cosenza Castle

Cosenza, Italy

The Castello Svevo ('Swabian' or Hohenstaufen Castle) was originally built by the Saracens on the ruins of the ancient Rocca Brutia, around the year 1000. The castle was restored by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, adding the octagonal tower to the original structure, in 1239. According to tradition, his son Henry lived in this castle, as a prisoner at his father's command. Louis III of Naples and Margaret of Savoy married in the castle and they both settled there in 1432.

All signs of the ancient Saracen structure have now disappeared. In the internal cloister, the modifications made by the Bourbons in order to convert it into a prison can also be seen. The entrance-hall is covered by ogival arches with engraved brackets. A wide corridor is dominated by some fleur-de-lis from the House of Anjou coat of arms. They are engraved on the ribbed Hohenstaufen arches.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Via del Castello 5, Cosenza, Italy

See all sites in Cosenza

Details

Founded: c. 1000 AD
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Cosenza Cathedral (0,3 km)
Church of San Domenico (0,7 km)

Nicastro Cathedral (34,9 km)
Rossano Cathedral (45,6 km)
Scolacium Archaeological Park (60,6 km)
San Giovanni in Fiore Abbey (38,3 km)
Corigliano Calabro Castle (41 km)
Santa Maria del Patire Abbey (41,5 km)
Castello della Valle (17,4 km)
Santa Maria della Roccella (60,6 km)
Scylletium (60,5 km)

User Reviews

Laíssa Antunes - Vida na Itália (4 months ago)
Amazing place!

Luca Trani (10 months ago)
Nice place, great view, but it seemed to me to be abandoned for itself,nobody in there from the staff, nor a visitor

Ancuta Ondrejou (12 months ago)
Not much to see just the view of Cosenza city.

D K (12 months ago)
Good view

Caitlin Guerriero (13 months ago)
I am royal blood of the Guerriero family I don't know why they would want to destroy a beautiful monument it used to be called if I'm not mistaken reconda de Guerrero on behalf of the old royal family, the knights Templar was my ancestor which would make me royal blood/princess just without a castle.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Bochum1805

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