Le Castella

History

Le Castella has origins rooted in myth and legend, often linked to Homer's Odyssey and the Japygian promontories. Archaeological evidence suggests settlements dating back to the 4th–3rd centuries BC, while tradition connects the site to Hannibal during the Second Punic War. Following his retreat, the Romans established a colony of about 3,000 settlers, giving rise to the first stable settlement named Castra. Ancient sources also mention nearby islands once admired for their beauty. During the Middle Ages, Le Castella came under Arab control before becoming a thriving settlement with churches, officials, and a local universitates. From the 14th to 16th centuries it followed the fate of the Kingdom of Naples, taking part in events such as the battle of Le Castella. The fortress, known as Castellorum maris, passed between noble families and the crown, undergoing major reconstruction under the Aragonese. From the 16th to 18th centuries, the village and fortress suffered repeated Ottoman Empire raids, including the 1536 attack by Hayreddin Barbarossa, who captured Giovanni Dionigi Galeni (later known as Uluç Ali Paşa). These incursions led to a long decline, and in 1644 the settlement was abandoned by royal order. Gradual repopulation began in the late 17th century, with the fortress serving as a refuge for nearby inhabitants. In the modern era, Le Castella became a minor settlement within the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and later Italy. The 20th century saw urban expansion after land reforms, and the village gained visibility in the 1960s when it was chosen as a filming location for movies such as For Love and Gold directed by Mario Monicelli and The Gospel According to St. Matthew by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  35
• Yellow-legged Gull

  Larus michahellis J.F.Naumann, 1840 · Aves
  28
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  26
• Wauke

  Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. · Magnoliopsida
  21
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  21
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  20
• Myrtle

  Myrtus communis L. · Magnoliopsida
  19
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  18

Most recent

• M 4.3 — 2026-01-15
  78 km ESE of Capo Rizzuto, Italy
• M 4.4 — 2026-01-15
  77 km E of Capo Rizzuto, Italy
• M 4.4 — 2026-01-15
  88 km ESE of Capo Rizzuto, Italy
• M 4.3 — 2025-02-18
  7 km NNW of Crotone, Italy
• M 4.2 — 2024-11-28
  9 km E of Serra Pedace, Italy
• M 4 — 2024-10-27
  2 km ENE of Serra Pedace, Italy