Caccuri Castle and Mastrigli Tower

In the province of Crotone, in Caccuri - one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages - stands a medieval-looking castle, as beautiful as those in fairy tales. Sumptuous and refined, with a tower, thick walls and battlements. Frescoed halls, silverware on display, damask fabrics and four-poster beds.

This is the Castle of Caccuri, built in the 6th century by the Byzantines as a lookout post to spot enemies and control the territory, but its original structure has been remodelled several times over the centuries to become a ducal palace. The castle overlooks the beautiful Neto Valley, in a panoramic spot where the view stretches from the Ionian Sea to the Sila mountains. Originally a military fort, over the centuries it has been the residence of noble feudal lords belonging to the most important families such as the Ruffo, Cavalcanti and Barracco families. The splendid tower on the castle's ravelin is the work of architect Adolfo Mastrigli (from whom it takes its name), dates back to 1882 and is the symbol of the municipal coat of arms of Caccuri, as well as being a distinctive feature of the village.

The exterior of the Castle is austere and elegant, but inside, with its trapezoidal layout and central courtyard, the building is even more surprising. Huge halls, kitchens, bedrooms: the interior rooms have retained their charm, embellished with frescoes depicting scenes of chivalry, candlesticks, mirrors and large antique paintings. The Palatine Chapel is striking for its beauty, with a single hall divided by a triumphal arch on which the Cavalcanti coat of arms stands out. The original ceiling is a painted wooden coffered ceiling. The high altar, in lacquered and gilded wood, is densely decorated with acanthus leaves. The central altarpiece depicts Saint Barbara, while the side altar, decorated with Rococo stuccoes, is dedicated to Saint Gaetano da Thiene. The collection of 17th-century paintings from the Neapolitan School is of great artistic interest.

In more recent years, restoration and modernisation work has been carried out, making the historic residence a venue for cultural activities and events, but also an ideal place for elite tourism. Like all castles, Caccuri Castle has an intricate history of love, family rivalries and crimes. These are episodes in which reality and legend overlap to the point of coincidence. It is said that Polissena Ruffo, widow of the French knight Giacomo de Mailly, was given in marriage by the queen to the young Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan. The marriage produced only one daughter, whom they named Antonia, but the joy of this birth was short-lived because Polissena and her daughter Antonia were murdered by an unknown assailant.