WTI Magazine #83    2016 September 16
Author : I borghi più belli d'Italia      Translation by:

The old town of Castellabate, in the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano, is recognized by the UNESCO as A "Patrimony of Humanity" in the section of "Man and Biosphere" program. Let's start from this information that recognizes the profound value of this "Cultural Landscape" that is full of memories, artistic and natural masterpieces, and go to discover this village which still maintains the medieval urban structure.

Narrow streets, corners, arches, short staircases, palaces, squares and interconnected houses where the grey stone dominates, are lined up without continuity, sometimes with their backs turned on intense lights and sometimes opening themselves onto the green hillside inclined towards the sparkling sea, spotted only by white colour of posidonias, in one of the most striking angles of Cilento's coast.

The castle, built by order of San Costabile, was not only a place of cult, but also an important economic and social centre, and, in that period, a land tax reform was accomplished by Beato Simeone. He entrusted the lands to farmers, asking them in exchange to improve and cultivate it. Soon, the wetland and malarial territory turned to its old seafaring vocation of commerce and fishing. The landlords and shipowners found means to make Castellabate richer, building palaces, churches, villas and gardens. On the two extreme parts of the village are Villa Principe di Belmonte and Villa Matarazzo in coastal hamlet of Santa Maria, they preannounce the appeal that later on is discovered in a web of narrow streets that lead towards the rectangular square, where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the valley descending towards the sparkling sea of Licosa. The square is surrounded by old houses that make this medieval seashore light and vague, while the castle, on the top of a slightly uphill street, completes the impression.

It was Abbot Costabile who set the first stone on October 10th 1123. The fortress, built to protect the population and naval traffic from the Saracen invasions, still appears solid and imposing. The walls, with their four rounded towers in the angles, are built at crucial points, enclosing houses, depositories, furnaces and cisterns.

Not far away from the fortress there is the Basilica of Santa Maria de Giulia, whose façade (16th century) is connected to a fourfloor bell tower. It has one nave and two aisles and preserves a painting of "San Michele Arcangelo vittorioso su Satana" by an anonymous artist, and an altar triptych "Vergine in trono con Bambino, San Pietro e San Giovanni Evangelista" by Pavanino da Palermo (1472). Another place of cult, in front of the basilica, is the small Church of the Rosary, from the end of the 16th century. Inside, there is only one nave, covered by a vault of octagonal chests. It preserves a 17th century polychrome marble altar. Do not forget the beautiful construction made of arches in small port of Santa Maria called Porto delle Gatte ("Cat's Port").

THE NAME
The name of Castrum Abbatis, Castle of the Abbot, is linked to the construction of the castle, which was started by Abbot Costabile Gentilcore in 1123.