Le Castella: Fortress, Coast and Experiences in the Marine Protected Area

The Fortezza di Le Castella stands on an island connected to the coast by a narrow strip of land. Le Castella lies at the heart of the “Capo Rizzuto” Marine Protected Area. Its coastline alternates between rocky sandstone promontories and sandy beaches of fossil and calcareous origin. This combination of fortress, coastal formations and protected marine area gives a trip to Le Castella several clearly distinct focuses.

Fortress and Historical Traces

The Fortezza Le Castella acquired its present architectural form during the Aragonese rule through extensive reconstruction work, completed in 1487. The plural name Le Castella also bears a historical trace: it indicates that there used to be more than one fortification in the area. Those interested in architecture and history will therefore find a specific starting point for exploring the town.

Coastline with Fortress Views

Spiaggia Grande lies in front of the village of Le Castella and offers a view of the Fortezza Aragonese. At the same time, the beaches of Le Castella have particularly shallow seabeds. This makes it possible to combine different landscape impressions when planning a day on the coast: views of the historic complex, rocky sections and sandy beaches with gently sloping seabeds.

Underwater World and Excursions at Sea

The “Capo Rizzuto” Marine Protected Area offers glass-bottom boat trips as an active service for observing the seabed of the protected area. On the seabed in front of the Castello Aragonese near Le Castella lie a large shipwreck and, nearby, underwater statues depicting a nativity scene. The protected area’s tour programme also includes rubber dinghy excursions for seawatching, as well as dives to sunken wrecks or particularly beautiful marine areas.

Glass-Bottom Boat and Local Tours

Aquavision offers glass-bottom boat trips from April to October. During the school term, educational routes with activities in the village of Le Castella are also organised. The Le Castella tour includes a one-hour glass-bottom boat trip, a guided tour on board and a swimming stop. This provides both seasonal boat trips and a more extensive tour format with several stops in the village.

Museum of the Sea, History and Nature

Pélagos – Museo del Mare is a museum complex near Le Castella focused on the historical and natural significance of the area. Its offerings include a virtual reality experience simulating a 360-degree dive at an underwater archaeological site. Visits to the Museo del Mare AMP Capo Rizzuto in Le Castella are possible only with advance reservation. The Museo del Mare AMP Capo Rizzuto is located at Piazza Magellano in the Le Castella district of Isola di Capo Rizzuto.

Ceramics and Local Products

The Le Castella tour also includes a visit to a ceramics workshop. There, the various stages of ceramic production are explained. The tour programme is complemented by a tasting of local products in one of the shops on the village’s main street. In this way, the tour leads from the marine area to an artisan workshop and then to regional products in the village.

Other Places in the Surrounding Area

Caccuri, Marina Di Strongoli, San Nicola Dell'alto, Belvedere Di Spinello, Torretta, Steccato, Torre Melissa, Petilia Policastro

To the overarching travel overview: Crotone.