Castellabate (
Cilentan: ''Castiellabbate'') is a town and ''
comune
The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...
'' in the
province of Salerno
The Province of Salerno ( it, Provincia di Salerno) is a province in the Campania region of Italy.
__TOC__
Geography
The largest towns in the province are: Salerno, the capital, which has a population of 131,950; Cava de' Tirreni, Battipagli ...
in the
Campania
(man), it, Campana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 =
, demog ...
region of south-western
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
.
History
The area was inhabited since
Upper Palaeolithic
The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. Very broadly, it dates to between 50,000 and 12,000 years ago (the beginning of the Holocene), according to some theories coin ...
times. In early medieval times, the current ''frazione'' of
Licosa
Licosa is a southern Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castellabate, a municipality in the province of Salerno, Campania. As of 2009 its population was of 82.
History
The toponym derives from the Greek word Λευκωσία (Leukosia ...
was a base of the
Saracens, who were defeated here in 846 by a coalition of the
Duchy of Naples,
Amalfi
Amalfi (, , ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Salerno, in the region of Campania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno. It lies at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto (1,315 metres, 4,314 feet), surrounded by dramati ...
,
Sorrento
Sorrento (, ; nap, Surriento ; la, Surrentum) is a town overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy. A popular tourist destination, Sorrento is located on the Sorrentine Peninsula at the south-eastern terminus of the Circumvesuviana ra ...
and
Gaeta.
The history of the current Castellabate is tied to
Saint Costabile Gentilcore (St. Constabilis), fourth abbot of
La Trinità della Cava
La Trinità della Cava ( la, Abbatia Territorialis Sanctissimae Trinitatis Cavensis), commonly known as Badia di Cava, is a Benedictine territorial abbey located near Cava de' Tirreni, in the province of Salerno, southern Italy. It stands in a go ...
. In 1123, the same year in which he was elevated to the position of abbot, he started construction on the Angel's Castle (10 October 1123), which afterwards became entitled to him. His title gave the village its present name: ''Castrum Abbatis'', Latin for "the castle of the abbot". His abbacy lasted until 17 February 1124. His successor, Simeon, completed its construction and helped the inhabitants.
Later, Castellabate fell under the control of the
barony of the
Cilento. It then passed, in turn, to Caracciolo, Loffredo, Filomarino, Acquaviva, and finally the Granito family (who carried the title of marquis and later became princes by marriage) in 1745. Castellabate remained in the family of the
Prince of Belmonte
Prince of Belmonte ( it, Principe di Belmonte; es, Príncipe de Belmonte) is a noble title created in 1619 by the Spanish crown for the Barons of Badolato and Belmonte. The name of the title is taken from the fortress town of Belmonte in Calabria, ...
until the end of the feudal era.
Numerous medieval structures remain in use today with the most significant being the Castello Dell 'Abate, Basilica Pontificia Santa Maria de Gulia, and the Piazza 10 Ottobre 1123 (Malzone). The original four defensive walls of Castello dell 'Abate, a courtyard and arches remain today. The castle serves as a site for cultural events although the interior has been remodeled and hosts an art museum. The museum contains valuable archeological discoveries such as ancient amphoras and features the work of local artists. The underground, featuring original stairs and passageways as well as arrow slips and gun loops has been stabilized and also is available to tour. Legend has it that the underground passageways connected to the villages below were used as routes of escape from marauding pirates.
The Basilica Pontificia Santa Maria de Gulia, built in the 12th century was commissioned by the successor of Costabile Gentilcore. Expansions and renovations of the Basilica have occurred over the years and today it features three naves, transept and apse, a domed roof, an annexed bell tower with functional carillon, and several mosaics and paintings, including one of the Archangel Michael.
The Piazza 10 Ottobre 1123 built the year work began on the Castell dell’Abate is located in the center of the village featuring cafes, shops, and a tourist agency. Several notable palaces remain today including the Palazzo Matarazzo (currently serving as a tourist hotel). The nobleman, Francesco Matarazzo (1854-1937) born in Castellabate is credited with creating a rich economic empire and stimulating emigration to Brazil; the family continues to support the local area (D’Auria). A recent example is the gift of the Villa Matarazzo which has been renovated and now serves as a community setting for civic events and houses a cinema; the surrounding grounds feature a nature park and playground for children.
Geography
Castellabate borders with the municipalities of
Agropoli
Agropoli is a town and ''comune'' located in the Cilento area of the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy. It is situated at the start of the Cilentan Coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
History Pre-medieval period
The promontory on which Agropoli ...
,
Laureana Cilento,
Montecorice and
Perdifumo. It counts the hamlets (''
frazioni
A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...
'') of Alano,
Licosa
Licosa is a southern Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castellabate, a municipality in the province of Salerno, Campania. As of 2009 its population was of 82.
History
The toponym derives from the Greek word Λευκωσία (Leukosia ...
,
Ogliastro Marina,
Santa Maria (the municipal seat) and
San Marco
San Marco is one of the six sestieri of Venice, lying in the heart of the city as the main place of Venice. San Marco also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Although the district includes Saint Mark's Square, that was never admin ...
; and the localities of Lago and
Tresino.
Castellabate is 280 meters above sea level and lies in the middle of the Cilento National Park. It is situated on the gulf of Policastro, the island of Capri can be seen from the shoreline.
Castellabate is part of the Cilento National Park and the Vallo di Diano (Pellecchia) distinquished by forests, natural caves, inaccessible peaks, and miles of walking paths in a setting full of a variety of flora and fauna.
Transport
The nearest
railway station
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a prep ...
is found at Agropoli. Served by numerous trains, which include ''
Eurostar Italia
Eurostar Italia was the name given to high-speed trains operated by Trenitalia in Italy. The brand was discontinued and replaced with Le Frecce in December 2012.
History
The category Eurostar, introduced in 1997, replaced the Pendolino trains a ...
'', it is found on the route of
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
-
Reggio Calabria. In terms of roads, it is served by the A3 Highway, which connects the town with the coast of Cilento.
Access by sea is found at the port of San Marco di Castellabate.
Cuisine
Castellabate's cuisine is based on local products: wine, olive oil, cheese (such as
mozzarella
Mozzarella (, ; nap, muzzarella ) is a southern Italian cheese traditionally made from Italian buffalo's milk by the pasta filata method.
Fresh mozzarella is generally white but when seasoned it turns to a light yellow depending on the anim ...
),
garbanzo beans
The chickpea or chick pea (''Cicer arietinum'') is an annual plant, annual legume of the family (biology), family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. Its different types are variously known as gram" or Bengal gram, garbanzo or garbanzo bean, or Egypti ...
,
salami
Salami ( ) is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat, typically pork. Historically, salami was popular among Southern, Eastern, and Central European peasants because it can be stored at room temperature for up to 45 days ...
, and confections made with
figs
The fig is the edible fruit of ''Ficus carica'', a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae. Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, it has been cultivated since ancient times and is now widely grown throughout the world ...
.
Media
''
Benvenuti al Sud'', an Italian adaptation of the
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
French film ''
Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis'', is set in Castellabate and partly in its hamlets
Santa Maria and
San Marco
San Marco is one of the six sestieri of Venice, lying in the heart of the city as the main place of Venice. San Marco also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Although the district includes Saint Mark's Square, that was never admin ...
.
[Article]
on the '' Corriere del Mezzogiorno''
International relations
Castellabate is
twinned with:
*
Blieskastel
Blieskastel () is a city in the Saarpfalz (Saar-Palatinate) district, in Saarland, Germany which is divided into villages. It is situated on the river Blies, approximately southwest of Homburg (Saar), west of Zweibrücken, and east of Saarbrü ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, since 2008
See also
*
Cilento
*
Cilentan Coast
The Cilento Coast ( Italian: ''Costiera Cilentana'') is an Italian stretch of coastline in Cilento, on the southern side of the Province of Salerno. It is situated between the gulfs of Salerno and Policastro, extending from the municipalities ...
*
Santa Maria di Castellabate
Santa Maria di Castellabate ( Cilentan: ''A Marina'') is a southern Italian town and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castellabate, a municipality in the province of Salerno, Campania. It is the most populated ''frazione'' of its ''comune'' and the seat ...
*
Harald Winter
Harald Winter (born 1953), a native of Herrsching am Ammersee west of Munich, Bavaria, is an artist. He works in the fields of drawing, painting, sculpture and performance.
Life
After his Abitur, the final secondary school examinations in 1973, ...
References
External links
Tourism in Castellabate and in the National park of CilentoCilento and Vallo di Diano National ParkBlue Flag
Cities and towns in Campania
Localities of Cilento
{{Campania-geo-stub