Federiciano Castle

The Castrum Petrae Roseti, or the stone castle of Roseto Capo Spulico, imposing and overlooking the sea, has a fascinating history that spans the ages and events.

In the 10th century, Saint Vitale da Castronuovo founded his monastery here on the petrae roseti. And it was on the ruins of that sacred building, on the Cardone promontory, that the fortified castle was built in the 16th century by the Normans to defend the coast. The building had a strategic position, marking the border between the possessions of Robert Guiscard and those of his brother Roger, father of Constance of Altavilla, heir to the Kingdom of Sicily and mother of Frederick of Hohenstaufen.

A new phase for the manor began in 1229, when Frederick of Swabia, emperor and king of Sicily, requisitioned it from the Knights Templar in retaliation for their betrayal during the Sixth Crusade in the Holy Land. The emperor ordered it to be rebuilt and, thanks to its unique features and majestic beauty, it is still one of the most evocative and characteristic medieval castles in Calabria today. 

The profile of the Federiciano Castle in Roseto Capo Spulico stands out powerfully from afar, surrounded by the blue waters of the Ionian Sea. The ancient fortress dominates the Gulf of Taranto and directly opposite, in the sea, there is a rock with a distinctive shape called "anvil stone", which dates back to the 10th century and is believed to be part of the ancient Cistercian complex commissioned by San Vitale. The castle has a trapezoidal plan and is surrounded by walls that open onto an imposing Gothic-style portal that still bears the coat of arms of the Swabian family. Its three towers are striking, one of which stands out because it is crenellated and taller than the others. Cisterns and stables are still visible on the outside, but the echoes of the stories these walls have witnessed can still be felt inside, in the large halls that are now used for banquets and conferences.

An interesting fact: the property, with its 10,000 square metres of land and private beach, is currently for sale for the ‘modest’ sum of 36 million euros.