Ruffo Castle (Castello Ruffo di Scilla), also known as Castello Ruffo di Calabria, is an ancient fortress standing on the rocky promontory of Scilla, along the southern coast of the Strait of Messina. The Ruffo Castle dominates the surrounding landscape and represents one of the most recognizable historical landmarks of Calabria. The Ruffo Castle overlooks the historic district of Chianalea and controls one of the narrowest points of the Strait of Messina. Because of this strategic position, the castle played a major military and defensive role for many centuries. The rocky cliff on which the Ruffo Castle stands has been inhabited since antiquity. Ancient Greek tradition associated the place with Scylla, the mythological sea monster described by Homer in the Odyssey. Throughout history, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Angevins, Aragonese rulers, and the Ruffo family transformed and expanded the fortress according to military and political needs. Today, the Ruffo Castle is one of the most important cultural monuments in southern Italy. Besides its historical significance, the castle offers panoramic views over the Strait of Messina and the Sicilian coast. Short History of the Ruffo Castle (Castello Ruffo di Scilla) Origins of the Fortress The first fortified structure on the Read more [...]
All Castles in Calabria
Murat Castle (Castello Murat)
Castello Murat, also known as the Aragonese Castle of Pizzo, is one of the most important historical monuments in Pizzo. The fortress stands on a rocky cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, close to the historic center and the marina. The Murat Castle is closely linked to Joachim Murat, the brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte. Murat was imprisoned here after his failed attempt to regain the Kingdom of Naples in 1815. Today, Castello Murat functions as a museum dedicated to Joachim Murat and the history of the fortress. Visitors can explore the prison cells, historical rooms, and exhibitions connected to the final days of the former king. Powered by GetYourGuide Joachim Murat Joachim Murat was born in 1767 in southern France. He became one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s most important military commanders during the Napoleonic Wars. Murat was famous for his cavalry leadership and for his flamboyant military uniforms. In 1800, Murat married Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon’s younger sister. The marriage strengthened his political position inside the French imperial court and increased his influence within the Napoleonic Empire. King of Naples In 1808, Napoleon appointed Murat King of Naples. During his reign, Murat introduced administrative reforms, improved parts of the road Read more [...]
Castello Aragonese
The Castello Aragonese is an ancient fortification located in the homonymous Piazza Castello, in Reggio Calabria. Together with the Riace Bronzes, it is considered one of the main historical symbols of the city. SHORT HISTORY Under Emperor Justinian I, during the war between the Goths and the Byzantines, Belisarius entered Reggio to free it from the barbarians and found the city devoid of fortifications, so the general immediately ordered the restoration of the city walls. As a consequence, a castle was built around the 6th century. In 1059, the fortress passed from the Byzantines to the Normans, and in 1266 to Charles I of Anjou. Since the Normans, who established the court there, the castle was modified and enlarged several times. A substantial part of the work took place during the reign of Frederick II of Swabia, when the imperial authority built a state defense system for the Kingdom of Sicily. The Swabian part of the castle, a building with a square plan, with four corner towers, also of square shape, remained standing until after the earthquake of 1908. The castle was restored in 1327, after the repeated wars between the Angevins and the Aragonese, then fortified in 1381 Read more [...]