Castle of Rocca Calascio, Medieval fortress in Calascio, Italy
The stone fortress stands at 1460 meters above sea level, featuring a central tower and four circular turrets on the outer defensive walls.
Construction began in the 10th century as a military watchtower, with additional fortifications and cylindrical towers added during the 13th century expansion.
The fortress served as a filming location for numerous productions, including the 1985 film Ladyhawke and the medieval drama The Name of the Rose.
Visitors can access the castle through a hiking trail from Calascio village, with guided tours available from April through October each year.
The castle ranks among National Geographic's top 15 castles worldwide and represents the highest fortification across the entire Apennine mountain range.
Location: Calascio
Architectural style: Norman architecture
Address: 67020 Calascio, Province of L'Aquila, Italy 67020
Phone: +390862930132
Website: http://roccacalascio.info/informazioni-rocca-calascio/#.WuI-QnPOM0M
GPS coordinates: 42.32941,13.68799
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:36
Italy preserves numerous historical sites away from standard tourist routes, ranging from medieval hill towns to Etruscan burial grounds. These locations document different periods of Italian history through architecture, art and natural settings. The collection includes Roman archaeological sites such as Palazzo Valentini Domus Romane, where ancient townhouses remain beneath modern streets, and Basilica di San Clemente, which displays three construction phases built one above another. In southern Italy, the Sassi of Matera show cave dwellings from prehistoric times, while the Crypt of the Original Sin presents early Christian frescoes from the 8th century. The architectural variety ranges from the conical trulli houses in Alberobello to the Moorish inspired rooms of Sammezzano Castle. Civita di Bagnoregio sits on a tufa rock plateau separated from surrounding land by erosion. The Greek Theatre of Taormina and the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento document the ancient Greek presence in Sicily. Natural formations such as Grotta Azzurra on Capri and the thermal springs of Saturnia complement the historical structures. The sites spread across the entire country, from the Alps to the Aeolian Islands.
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