Belcastro
Exploring Belcastro
Hello everyone! Today I am going to talk to you about Belcastro, a town in the province of Catanzaro in Calabria. With its 1,283 inhabitants, it is a small but very interesting town to visit. Its history is very ancient: it is believed to have been inhabited since the Neolithic period and later passed under different dominations, such as the Roman and Byzantine. Today, Belcastro enchants tourists thanks to its natural beauty and numerous monuments.
Natural beauties
The town of Belcastro stretches from the south-eastern slopes of the Sila Piccola to the Ionian Sea coast, amidst sea and mountains. The location of the site allows you to discover the renowned seaside resorts of Crotonese, such as Capo Rizzuto and Le Castella on the island of Capo Rizzuto, as well as Catanzaro Lido, Copanello, Soverato and the Archaeological Park of Scolacium. But not only that: in a very short time, you can also reach mountainous places like Buturo, Tirivolo, and Monte Gariglione in Sila. The territory of Belcastro, one of the largest in the province, overlooks the sea for a strip of land just three kilometers long which, still almost uncontaminated, separates Cutro from Botricello and includes the hamlets of Fieri, Condoleo, and Magliacane. Furthermore, there is another hamlet, called Acquavona, to the northwest in the Sila wedge, between Cerva, and Petronà, which is an ancient and healthy holiday area.
Monuments and history
The historic center of Belcastro is dominated by the presence of the medieval Norman-style castle of the counts of Aquino, which according to some local historians would be the birthplace of St. Thomas Aquinas. Recently restored (between 2006 and 2012), the castle is a must-see for those visiting Belcastro. The medieval village, where new construction areas alternate with the characteristic alleys of the old part of the town. There are several churches from various periods, including the former Cathedral of S. Michele Arcangelo, second in antiquity only to that of Gerace. But also the Church of S. Maria della Pietà and the monumental ruins of the Church of the SS. Annunziata, restored from 2004 to 2010 and returned to worship and tourism, are worth a visit. Venturing into the narrow streets of the historic center of Belcastro is like taking a dip into the past.
The history of Belcastro
Belcastro has a very ancient history. After having been a fiefdom of the d'Aquino family for a long time, Roberto d'Angiò changed its name to Bellocastrum in 1300 for the beauty of the place, subsequently enjoying the title of city by privilege granted by Alfonso V of Aragon and then by his son Ferrante I. In the 1500s, Federico d'Aragona entrusted it to Costanza d'Avalos d'Aquino, duchess of Francavilla, and in that period it enjoyed great splendor, counting about 7,000 inhabitants. In 1575 it was feudalized by the Sersale dukes, then by the Caracciolo di Forino and finally, since April 8, 1715, by the Poerio barons, who held the barony until 1806, when feudalism was extinguished, except for a brief parenthesis (1803-1809) during which the barony was leased to Antonio Cirillo of Taverna.
Conclusions
Belcastro is a small Calabrian town that enchants us with its natural beauty and historical monuments. Visiting the old city and the medieval Norman-style castle of the counts of Aquino will allow you to take a dip into the past. In addition, you can explore the surrounding territory, between sea and mountains, which offers breathtaking views and renowned seaside resorts such as Capo Rizzuto and Le Castella. If you are looking for a destination for a day trip, Belcastro is definitely worth considering. Discover the beauty of this town in the province of Catanzaro and let yourself be enchanted by its history and natural wonders.
