Carafa Castle

The Carafa Castle in Santa Severina, one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages in the province of Crotone, stands on the highest part of the Santa Severina cliff, in a panoramic position overlooking the Neto Valley, and covers an area of approximately 10,000 square metres. It is one of the best-preserved castles in Calabria: after a series of archaeological excavations, followed by careful restoration work (1991-1998), scholars still do not have a clear picture of the original layout. It is hypothesised that on the site of the current Castle of Santa Severina there was a fortified place designed to house the civilian population, called “Arce Bizantina”, probably built on pre-existing Arab structures. A document from 1240 attests to restoration work on the Castle of Santa Severina, but none of the architectural elements seem to refer to the Swabian period.

As it appears today, the Carafa Castle of Santa Severina seems closer to the Angevin period, at least as far as the perimeter structures and the projecting crenellated defences of the circular towers at the corners are concerned. Reliable information is only available from the 16th century onwards, when Andrea Carafa conquered the fortress and carried out important modernisation works: more comfortable interior spaces, access gates to the city, three bastions and two defensive fronts. They were followed by the Ruffo, Sculco and Greuther families, who embellished the fortress with painted and decorated pavilion vaults. The frescoes by Francesco Giordano date back to 1700.

Today, the Carafa Castle in Santa Severina is open to visitors all year round and houses the Archaeological Museum of Santa Severina, where you can admire most of the finds that emerged during excavations and research within the walls. Furthermore, the Castle of Santa Severina is the beating heart of the traditional Medieval Festival: the historical re-enactment that takes place every year in the village between May and June, full of flag throwers, acrobats, performers, jugglers and artisans.