Calascio
Discovering Rocca Calascio Castle
If you're looking for a magical and historically rich destination to visit in Italy, you should definitely put Rocca Calascio Castle at the top of your must-see list. Located in the hamlet of Rocca Calascio in the Calascio municipality of Abruzzo, this medieval castle was built at an altitude of 1460 meters above sea level and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and villages.
The History of Rocca Calascio Castle
Rocca Calascio Castle was founded by King Roger II of Sicily around 1140 during the Norman Conquest of Southern Italy. Until the end of the 15th century, many aristocratic families held power over Rocca, including the Pagliara, Colonna, Celano, Caldora, Piccolomini Todeschini, Del Pezzo, Cattaneo, Medici, and Borbone families.
The castle's strategic importance declined in 1703, when it was hit by the earthquake that devastated L'Aquila and caused significant damage to the structure. Over time, the castle gradually fell into disrepair, and in 1957, the entire site was completely abandoned.
Description of Rocca Calascio Castle
Rocca Calascio Castle is an ancient fortified stronghold composed of a central Maschio tower of ancient origin and four circular-base corner towers, heavily sloped, dating back to the 13th century. The entirely white local stone structure, made up of dressed squared stones, consists of a surrounding defensive wall that encircles the central Maschio, which was used in the past as a military observation point, communicating with other nearby towers and castles all the way to the Adriatic Sea.
Located on a ridge of the southern sub-dorsal of the Gran Sasso massif, Rocca Calascio Castle offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and villages. Its particularly favorable location, baricentrically situated between Campo Imperatore to the north, Navelli plateau to the southwest, and Tirino valley to the southeast, made it one of the main fortifications in Abruzzo and enabled control of the territory, from a defensive point of view as well as in regards to transhumance-related routes.
Restoration of Rocca Calascio Castle
In 1703, Rocca Calascio Castle was severely damaged in the earthquake that struck L'Aquila, and in the decades that followed, the castle was left abandoned. However, in the 1980s, the castle underwent major restoration and consolidation works, thanks in part to its popularity as a filming location for "Ladyhawke."
Today, Rocca Calascio Castle has become one of the main tourist attractions in the L'Aquila province, and in 2019 it was even included in National Geographic Magazine's list of the 15 most beautiful castles in the world.
If you want to enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and explore a place full of history, don't miss the chance to visit Rocca Calascio Castle!
