Castellabate, Medieval town in Province of Salerno, Italy
Castellabate is a municipality in the Province of Salerno, located in the Cilento region across hills and coastal stretches along the Tyrrhenian Sea at 289 meters (948 feet) above sea level. The upper part of the village retains narrow lanes and stone buildings from the Middle Ages, while the coastal areas feature small harbors and bathing coves.
Abbot Costabile Gentilcore began building the castle on the hilltop in 1123 to protect the coast from raids. The settlement grew over the following centuries under the rule of different noble families, until it became part of the new Italian state in the 19th century.
The name comes from Latin «Castrum Abbatis» and refers to the original foundation by an abbot during medieval times. Residents still gather in Piazza San Costabile in the upper village, while life along the beaches of Santa Maria and San Marco feels much more animated.
The old village sits on a hill and requires comfortable shoes for the narrow, steep lanes with cobblestones. Visitors should come in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is less strong and a walk feels more comfortable.
The castle on the summit was never completed, and its open structure now lets the wind pass through the walls. Locals say that on clear days you can spot up to seven coastal villages from here.
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