Borgo di Le Castella

Le Castella is a coastal village in Calabria whose settlement and identity are closely linked to the fortress on its offshore islet.

Why it matters

The borgo combines a fishing-port heritage with a state-owned fortress and the protected marine environment of Capo Rizzuto. The present mainland settlement grew after inhabitants left the islet around the turn of the nineteenth century.

What to notice

The fortress dominates the village and nearby coastline. The built area includes a fishing port, marina and beaches; offshore, rocky headlands and coves form part of the marine protected area.

Context and history

A Greek military outpost is associated with the islet in antiquity, while a castle is documented from the thirteenth century. Aragonese rebuilding after 1444 gave the fortress much of its later form. As settlement shifted from the islet to the mainland around 1800, the village developed around the causeway and harbour.