The Cavallara Tower: guardian of the Gulf of Squillace and witness to Mediterranean history

There Cavallara Towera 17th century sentinel, stands on a hill near the Ionian coast of Catanzaro.

Built to defend against Saracen incursions, this quadrangular tower served as an outpost for the Cavallari, responsible for reporting imminent dangers. On the ground floor, a large room with a barrel vault and a central pillar welcomed the horses, while the upper floor was reached via an external staircase and a drawbridge.

Inserted in a coastal defensive system, the Cavallara Tower is immortalized in “Carratelli Code”, a 16th-century manuscript illustrating its importance with 99 watercolors. From its elevated position, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Gulf of Squillacean area extending from Capo Rizzuto Island at Punta Stilorich in history and natural beauty, today divided between the provinces of Crotone, Catanzaro and Reggio Calabria.

This region, cradle of myths such as that of Ulysses and witness to the greatness of Magna Graecia, the Roman Empire, the Byzantines and the Arabs, offers archaeological sites such as Scolacium, a short distance from the tower, and picturesque medieval villages. It is a place where nature expresses itself with crystal clear waters and majestic mountains, scented with citrus fruits and eucalyptus and dotted with olive groves. Mediterranean cuisine finds one of its greatest expressions here.

Dominated by Mount Tiriolothe Cavallara Tower represents a meeting point of cultures and histories in the heart of the Mediterranean, a heritage of inestimable historical, landscape and cultural value.