Norman Castle of Squillace
Norman Castle of Squillace
The Norman Castle
Squillace Castle dominates the panorama from the highest point of the medieval town, watching over the settlement and its surroundings.
It was built by the Normans in the second half of the 11th century, at the end of their successful campaign of conquest in Calabria against the Byzantines, who had occupied southern Italy for over five centuries. The Norman period is certainly the most important for Squillace, which experienced a period of great political-administrative, economic, and religious fervor.
The walls define the outline of the town, clearly visible from the serpentine roads leading from the beach to the upper part. From inside, there is a spectacular view of the town and the entire gulf.
Despite the earthquake that struck Calabria and Squillace in 1783, the castle's structure, its stonework, and the embossed portal bearing the Borgia coat of arms are still clearly visible.
The rooms of the small castle museum are very interesting: In the so-called "Warrior's Hall," among various other historical finds, the skeletons of two warriors from the 13th/14th century, discovered during an excavation campaign by the Ecole Française, are on display.
Text / Source: turiscalabria.it
turiscalabria.it/website/?lang=de&categoria=/wo/kusten/grune-flagge/&view_type=s&id=189&title=squillace.html

Translated by Google •

Paul

October 28, 2025

The Norman Castle of Squillace
The Castle of Squillace dominates the village from the highest point of the hill. It was built by the Normans in the second half of the 11th century, at the end of their campaign to conquer Calabria against the Byzantines, who had occupied the region and southern Italy in general for over five centuries. During the Norman period, Squillace was the most important administrative, political, and religious stronghold on the Ionian coast. It was here that Ruggero d'Altavilla donated the lands where the Charterhouse of Serra San Bruno was built to San Bruno di Colonia.
The Norman period was certainly the most important for Squillace, which experienced a period of great political-administrative, economic, and religious fervor.
The early 13th century is fundamental to the history of Squillace: during this period, the settlement was first enfeoffed under a count and under the rule of a castellan. Under Frederick II, to whom we probably owe the construction of the polygonal tower on the eastern side of the enclosure, the Castrum Squillacii was held by a castellanus non habens terram and ten servients. The situation appears to have been the same in the Angevin era.
From 1256 onwards, the castle was occupied by various families: the Lancia, the Monfort, the Del Balzo, and the Marzano, until 1485, when the castle returned to the direct control of Frederick of Aragon, the future King of Naples. In 1494, the castle passed through marriage to the Borgia family, whose marble coat of arms dominates the entrance portal. The Borgias, a very important noble family of Castilian origin, moved to Italy in the 12th century, where they settled in Florence, Perugia, Siena, Rome, and Naples. The marriage established the alliance between Pope Alexander VI and Pope John Paul II. Borgia and Alfonso II of Aragon: Goffredo Borgia, brother of the much more famous Lucrezia, just 13 years old, and Sancha of Aragon, the king's natural daughter, are married. The Borgia family ruled the castle until 1729, when, due to a lack of heirs, it again became part of the royal domain. Squillace was downgraded to Marchesato in 1755 and passed into the hands of the De Gregorio family, who held the castle until 1783, when a violent earthquake shook and destroyed the entire village.
Text / Source: il Uoghi di Cassiodoro
iluoghidicassiodoro.it/i-musei/il-castello-normanno-di-squillace

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 380 m

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Location: Squillace, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy

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