Holidays in Roseto Capo Spulico: from castle by the sea to rose gardens

The village of Roseto Capo Spulico, in the province of Cosenza, is famous for its Castle, one of the Frederick's castles in Calabria, which stands directly on the beach of Roseto Capo Spulico, a Blue Flag along the Costa degli Achei.

In addition to the Frederick's Castle of Roseto Capo Spulico, the town is also famous for being the ‘’Village of Roses and Cherries‘’, by virtue of two ancient and precious crops that characterise its territory.

Let us discover all the secrets of Roseto Capo Spulico on a holiday full of scents, flavours and relaxation by the sea.

The Frederick's Castle of Roseto Capo Spulico is the symbol of the place, but unlike most of the castles in Calabria (with the exception of Le Castella, KR) it does not rise at the top of the village of Roseto Capo Spulico, in a panoramic and defensive position, but directly on the seashore, on the Cardon Promontory. This anomaly, along with other elements, contributes to the legends that are told throughout Italy about Frederick's castles, founded by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia: if the village is perched and looks out over the Gulf of Taranto to ward off the threat of the Saracens, the Castle of Roseto Capo Spulico, on the seashore, suggests a function that is anything but defensive. Is it an initiatory building? So goes the legend that this place was built to house the Holy Shroud.

What we do know is that the Frederick's Castle of Roseto Capo Spulico, known in ancient times as Castrum Petrae Roseti (the ‘’Castle of the Roseto Stone‘’) was already a Norman defensive outpost, rebuilt in the 13th century by Frederick II of Swabia and remodelled several times until the 16th century. Seen from the outside, the Castle of Roseto Capo Spulico is trapezoidal in shape, with three towers, one of which is crenellated and taller than the others. The interior, which can be partially visited as it is now a hotel, had large reception rooms and a series of service areas, such as the cisterns for collecting water and the stables.

The symbol of this stretch of beach in Roseto Capo Spulico is the unmistakable Incudine Rock (also known as the ‘’Mushroom‘’), due to its characteristic shape sculpted by erosion, which rises right near the castle. 

Remaining in the Marina of Roseto Capo Spulico, we enjoy the sea and a beach that boasts a Blue Flag and is one of the most beautiful and frequented on the Costa degli Achei. The beach of Roseto Capo Spulico is set in a naturalistic context of great beauty: surrounded by Mediterranean scrub, in particular by the lush expanses of cherry and rose trees that represent the two main crops of the area, the coast alternates between free stretches, with public showers, and equipped establishments, ideal for family holidays. The sand is mixed with pebbles and gravel, while the seabed is a unique spectacle for those who wish to explore it by diving or snorkelling. This spot on the Ionian coast of Calabria is also ideal for windsurfing or kayaking.

What are the other beaches in Roseto Capo Spulico? Not to be missed is the Cala del Turco beach, a true jewel to be discovered: a corner of paradise and tranquillity, surrounded by small sea caves to explore. A few kilometres from Roseto Capo Spulico town are the white beaches of the Sibaritide, a must-see during a seaside holiday in this area.

After spending the morning on the beach at Roseto Capo Spulico, we reach the hill on which the medieval village of Roseto Capo Spulico stands. Here, amidst alleys, small squares and belvederes, we admire the oldest buildings in the historic centre, starting with the Mother Church of San Nicola di Myra, dedicated to one of the most venerated saints of the Byzantine tradition in Calabria. Also not to be missed is the Church of the Immaculate Conception (or Santo Totaro).

Among the aristocratic palaces and other historical-artistic sites, the Palazzo Baronale is worth a visit; the San Vitale Fountain, the oldest monument in Roseto Capo Spulico; the Ethnographic Museum of Rural Civilisation; and, finally, a perfect gem for romantics: the picturesque ‘’Vinèlla degli Innamorati‘’, one of the narrowest alleys in Europe, made especially for stealing a kiss.

The best time to visit the village of Roseto Capo Spulico? Undoubtedly spring! In this season, in fact, the two first fruits of the local food industry bloom: roses and cherries, to which the most beautiful festivals are dedicated. Known as the ‘’Village of Roses and Cherries‘’, Roseto Capo Spulico entrusts to these two representative products the story of its identity and its most remote history: it seems, for example, that the renowned rose gardens that surround the town, spreading their perfume in the air in May, were used to fill with petals the pillows of the Sybarite princesses (the ancient Magna Graecia colony of Sybaris). As for cherries, also of ancient cultivation, they are today one of the most appreciated products: the De.Co. Cherry of Roseto (‘Communal Denomination of Origin’) was crowned ‘’Most Beautiful Cherry in Italy‘’.