Le Castella (KR) - on the footsteps of Odysseus and the ottoman pirates
By Italians on the move - 06:30
Hello fellow travellers and Italy lovers, it's been a long time!
I'm finally stealing some precious time to write about this little daytrip I had the pleasure to make with my dad and my sister back in January and even if it's been a over 2 months, I'm feeling extremely inspired by the sun shining outside my window.
Could this be the end of Winter??
Anyway, I need you to be prepared, for this is not only a journey in space, but also in time.
Today I'm telling you about a castle or even better "The Castles" which is the english translation for Le Castella.
There are many theories about this name, since it is actually only one fortress on a little isthmus, that creates two small gulfs in a larger one: one of the many legends tells about six other castles that once existed in six other small peninsulas, that would now be submerged by the sea.
An other very important legend that surrounds this place, crosses its paths with one of the greatest epic poems, the Odyssey, as well as the rest of the Jonic coast. This was supposed to be the isle of Calypso, the nymph that fell in love with Ulysses and seduced him, keeping him with her for seven years. Whether it was her or the beauty of the gulf, I can definitely understand him, this still is a mythical and very seductive place.
As I stepped into the fortress, I felt as if a stargate just closed behind me, leaving me in some other time in history. All around there are ancient walls and even more ancient stones, every corner speaks of a different era and of a different population: Greeks, Romans and even Turkish.
Yes, this small and almost neglected town has been one of the most important strategic bases for centuries, up untill it was almost completely burnt down and destroyed during the raids of the Ottoman pirates, that used it as a way into the italian realms.
These pirates had so much influence on this town that even a famous LeCastella born nobleman that was on his way to become a priest, when he was captured by the pirate "Redbeard" Khayr al-Din, he decided to join the piratery under the name of Uluc Alì Pascia' and became one of the most important commanders of pirate fleets and then governor of Algiers.
I'm finally stealing some precious time to write about this little daytrip I had the pleasure to make with my dad and my sister back in January and even if it's been a over 2 months, I'm feeling extremely inspired by the sun shining outside my window.
Could this be the end of Winter??
Anyway, I need you to be prepared, for this is not only a journey in space, but also in time.
There are many theories about this name, since it is actually only one fortress on a little isthmus, that creates two small gulfs in a larger one: one of the many legends tells about six other castles that once existed in six other small peninsulas, that would now be submerged by the sea.
An other very important legend that surrounds this place, crosses its paths with one of the greatest epic poems, the Odyssey, as well as the rest of the Jonic coast. This was supposed to be the isle of Calypso, the nymph that fell in love with Ulysses and seduced him, keeping him with her for seven years. Whether it was her or the beauty of the gulf, I can definitely understand him, this still is a mythical and very seductive place.
As I stepped into the fortress, I felt as if a stargate just closed behind me, leaving me in some other time in history. All around there are ancient walls and even more ancient stones, every corner speaks of a different era and of a different population: Greeks, Romans and even Turkish.
Yes, this small and almost neglected town has been one of the most important strategic bases for centuries, up untill it was almost completely burnt down and destroyed during the raids of the Ottoman pirates, that used it as a way into the italian realms.
These pirates had so much influence on this town that even a famous LeCastella born nobleman that was on his way to become a priest, when he was captured by the pirate "Redbeard" Khayr al-Din, he decided to join the piratery under the name of Uluc Alì Pascia' and became one of the most important commanders of pirate fleets and then governor of Algiers.
History aside, Le Castella has an undeniable beauty, it shines under the warm calabrian sun that blinds with the reflections on its bluest sea.
This light filters inside the castle, from the basement to the top of the towers, which are open for the visitors. From above, the view is amazing, so open and bright, with its shades of white, green and blue, same as from the long glass boardwalks that take you from one tower to the other (that gave me the littlest panic attack, I don't do well with heights) but it was worth it!
Inside, in some wings of the fortress, you can admire some art and novelties from the XVI and XVII centuries as well as some art exhibitions, this time it was some amazing book sculptures inspired by the books themselves. Needless to say, my favourite was The One Thousand and One Nights.
Anyway, between the art, the view and the food - we ate on the balcony of a restaurant just in front of the castle - the afternoon was one of the highlights of my winter break, maybe because it was warm and it felt almost like a super early Springtime.
Suddently it was time to say goodbye to Le Castella and go home to close my luggages, the next day I had to continue my journey to Tuscany.
Don't worry, I'll be back soon... probably!
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