Cantelmo Castle
Description
Cantelmo Castle of Alvito is an ancient fortress in the Comino Valley, located in the province of Frosinone near the borders of Abruzzo and Molise. It stands atop a hill overlooking the Alvito plain, which extends from northeast to southwest, and includes the village of Castello — an inner district of Alvito and the original settlement from which the present town developed, one of the first communities to arise after the decline of the Benedictine Civita di Sant’Urbano.
The castle was founded in 1094 by Adenolfo VI d’Aquino but was largely destroyed by the 1349 earthquake, which also killed members of the d’Aquino family. Adenolfo III d’Aquino and his wife from the Cantelmo family were buried there.
The castle was rebuilt in 1350 by Rostaino Cantelmo and master Landolfo, gaining stronger and more elegant walls. Conflict soon arose between the Cantelmo and the d’Aquino families over control of the fief, leading to the Cantelmo’s decline in the late 15th century. After their fall—caused by local unrest, French defeats, and King Frederick of Aragon’s siege—the Borgia took power in 1496.
The Borgias, led by Cesare Borgia, held Alvito until 1503, when it passed to the Spanish Navarro and Cardona families. With the Borgias ended the castle’s period of glory, though Alvito itself flourished in the early 16th century.
The fortress featured massive bastions, cylindrical towers, and two courtyards within high defensive walls. Today only ruins remain—broken towers, walls, and a western gate once bearing the Cantelmo coat of arms (a lion).
Since the 1990s, the castle has been owned by the Municipality of Alvito, which has been restoring the ruined sections and reinforcing the remaining structures to host cultural events and social gatherings. It is also known as the “Castle of Alvito,” although administratively this name refers to the entire Alvito district in which the fortress stands.
Address
Piazza Francesco Lanza 1, Alvito, Italy
Established
1094