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.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

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The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Le Castella Castle

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