Castello di Belmonte Calabro, building in Belmonte Calabro, Italy
Castello di Belmonte Calabro is a medieval castle situated on a rocky hilltop overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The fortress features thick stone walls and four corner towers surrounding an inner courtyard, with only portions of the original structure remaining today as ruins.
The castle was built around 1270 by the Angiò family as a stronghold to defend against attacks from the sea and serve as the center of local power. Over centuries, it suffered severe damage from earthquakes in the 17th and 18th centuries and a major French assault in the early 19th century that nearly destroyed it.
The name Belmonte means "beautiful mountain," reflecting its hilltop location. Residents maintain their heritage through yearly celebrations and gather in family-run restaurants to share local dishes like gammune salami, keeping traditions alive in everyday social life.
The walk up to the ruins is not difficult and offers good views of the sea and surrounding landscape from the top. A picnic area in the nearby park provides a convenient spot to rest, and the ruins are easily reached by walking through the narrow streets of the old town center.
The original entrance to the castle was built inside a rocky cliff and accessed by a small bridge or drawbridge, but this remarkable access was demolished in the 1970s during new construction in the town. This structure was an example of medieval defensive engineering that no longer exists visually but lives on in local memories.
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