The village of Caccuri, situated at 650 meters above sea level, overlooks the Sila mountains behind and the Neto Valley in front. Of medieval origin, it is part of the network of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, with its unique feature being its position around the panoramic castle.
The Castle of Caccuri dates back to the 6th century, built by the Byzantines, but little remains of this testimony due to various subsequent dominations. In 1418, it was included among the bequests of Count Carlo Ruffo di Montalto to his daughter Polissena, while in 1651, it was purchased by the wealthy patrician from Cosenza, Antonio Cavalcanti. The last family to live inside the castle in the 19th century was the Barracco family.
Decorated with hand-painted majolica tiles and frescoes on wooden panels, the castle's kitchen, dating back to the 1800s, is particularly noteworthy, also adorned with hand-painted majolica tiles from a different period than those in the other rooms.
Today, the castle is a venue for significant events such as the prestigious Caccuri Literary award, a non-fiction contest held every August. Among the awardees are Sigfrido Ranucci, journalist and host of Report, and among the guests are journalist Paolo Mieli and the current Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli.
The castle can be visited thanks to the volunteers of the "Arte in Gioco" Association.
Other places to explore:
- Castle of Santa Severina - Santa Severina
- Florense Abbey - San Giovanni in Fiore
- Pietre dell’Invallicata - Campana
