The Aragonese fortress that seems to float on the sea
On the Ionian coast south of Crotone, in the municipality of Isola di Capo Rizzuto, the small village of Le Castella is known for one of the most spectacular and photographed castles in southern Italy: the Aragonese fortress of Le Castella, built on a small islet a few dozen metres from the shore, connected to the mainland by a thin strip of sand and rocks, so that, seen from the coast, it seems to float on the water. The site was fortified since antiquity, perhaps already in Greek times, and the castle was rebuilt and enlarged several times, by the Angevins and then by the Aragonese in the fifteenth century, to defend the coast against Turkish pirates, with a massive cylindrical tower, walls and bastions.
Le Castella is linked to a curious story: here, in 1519, was born Giovanni Dionigi Galeni, a fisherman's son who, captured as a young man by Ottoman pirates, converted to Islam and, under the name of Uluç Ali, known in Italy as "Occhialì", became one of the greatest admirals of the Ottoman fleet and governor of Algiers, fighting at the battle of Lepanto. The castle was also the setting for scenes of the famous film "L'armata Brancaleone" by Mario Monicelli. The sea around Le Castella, with its clear water and seabed rich in posidonia, is part of the Area Marina Protetta Capo Rizzuto, and can be explored on glass-bottom boats, while the beaches nearby are among the most beautiful on the Ionian coast.
Tip: visit the castle in the late afternoon and stay for the sunset; take a glass-bottom boat tour of the marine reserve.
Discover Isola di Capo Rizzuto →
Where it is
More things to see in Calabria
Where to stay near Isola di Capo Rizzuto
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.