With a calendar full of events and many scheduled appointments, the Ducal Castle it is certainly an unmissable place for those who are in the vicinity of Corigliano – Rossano or intends to travel to this portion of the territory in the coming months.
The origins of the Castle
The Castle of Corigliano has very ancient origins: the first written sources date back the presence of a first fortification as early as the 11th century, when the Normans – on their way to conquering Calabria – decided to build a stronghold to defend the village of Corigliano and control the Sibari plain.
In the following centuries the Castle was expanded and renovated numerous times, so much so that today almost all traces of the fortified building from the Norman era have been lost. Particularly important was the restoration started in 1490 at the behest of Ferdinand I of Aragon, who ordered intense expansion interventions and the addition of a castle which completed the defensive system, consisting of the perimeter wall and the garrisons placed in the crucial points of the settlement itself . At the end of the work, the Castle will take on its definitive configuration.
However, there will also be no shortage of subsequent renovation works, such as those that were necessary already in the first half of the 16th century. Then, in the 17th century, the new owners – the Saluzzos of Genoa – decided to convert a large part of the structure into a residence, carrying out new functional adaptation works. The same family then promoted further renovation works in the 18th century.
In 1806 the history of the Castle includes a sacking by the French. The Saluzzos moved to Naples, selling the structure to Giuseppe Compagna from Longobucco, whose family members then carried out further modifications to the internal environments.
Further restorations followed which allowed the Castle to acquire today’s charm and functionality.
The events at the Ducal Castle of Corigliano Calabro
The Ducal Castle of Corigliano Calabro is today preferential location for many events that enrich its annual calendar.
For example, the facility is frequently offered to host wedding receptions, corporate events, civil or religious ceremonies, vintage or modern car parades, and much more.
The spaces of the Castle are also perfect for organizing large and structured conferences: the structure offers closed and open spaces where you can organize exhibition activities, cultural events, corporate meetings, conferences and much more.
Scheduled events
It is possible to find out about the events scheduled at the Ducal Castle consult the site internet of the structure at the address castellodicoriglianocalabro.comon the events page.
We reiterate how the Castle periodically organizes cultural events, exhibitions, concerts, parties, festivals and shows: a rich calendar of events located inside and outside the Castle, often capable of attracting a large audience even from outside the region.
School visits
Speaking of events, for a long time the Castle organizes educational workshops and educational courses for pupils and teachers of primary and lower secondary schools.
The experiences designed for schools aim to introduce the history of the Castle to primary and secondary school students in a unique and creative way, thanks to the active role of specialized guides and dedicated conditions.
The guided tour lasts approximately 1 hour, to which a play-educational workshop lasting another hour may also be added. However, there is no shortage of even longer and more immersive experiences, up to the point of dedicating an entire day!
The Ducal Castle: what not to lose sight of
The Ducal Castle offers surprises at every corner and, precisely for this reason, it is very difficult to understand which elements should not be lost sight of. In general, a guided tour with a specialized guide is certainly the best way to savor its views with the right awareness.
Furthermore, the one in the Castle is a real journey through time which will take you to numerous environments characterized by a good state of conservation, such as the Hall of Mirrors, the Dining Room, the St. Augustine Chapel, the Kitchens and, again , the Library of Magna Graecia and the Museum of the Image.
Among the experiences of greatest interest there is then listening to the gold foils of Turi, a very important historical testimony, which is typically found in ancient tombs in the Mediterranean area (including Calabria) and which can mainly be traced back to those who are presumed to have been initiated into pagan beliefs, as if they were a sort of passport for the dead, to be placed on or near the body. The inscription present in the tablets instructs the initiate on how to navigate and orient himself in the afterlife, including the indications that are necessary to avoid the dangers in the passage of the Moors and the answers to give to the judges in the underworld.
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