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Castro

Porto Enea, Castro

Castro stands in the area of Serre Salentine on a cliff above the sea: in an inlet of a thousand colours sits Castro Marina, the medieval town lies on the higher part of the promontory. A fishing village and beach resort it boasts ancient origins as the heir of the Roman Castra Minervae. It was one of the first cities of the Salento to become a County, and was later elected as a See by Leo II.

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Castle - Castro
Cathedral - Castro

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In Castro Marina in the charming green setting of olive trees: an uncontaminated sea, a coastline dotted with point and inlets, icy springs and a characteristic harbour, the closest to Greece for coasting ships, surrounded by grottos, which are cool warehouses for fishermen.
In Castro Superiore amidst the typical lanes and small houses of the town: the Castle on the ancient ruins of the Roman fortress dating back to the second half of the 16th century, the former Cathedral (12th century) which maintains the original Romanesque structure in part of the façade, transept and side portal, among the Baroque canvases is a Deposizione attributed to Gianserio Strabella and the remains of a small 10th century Byzantine church.
The famous Castro grottos are located just to the north of the town: Grotta Romanelli one of the most important prehistoric sites in Italy with red graffiti which are among the oldest depictions of humans in the field of figurative art and Grotta Zinzulusa, “the pearl of grottos”, so-called from the dialect word “zinzuli” or rags, which the fishermen used to refer to the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, typical formations formed by Karst phenomena. The last large room of the grotto contains a pond with very clear water, home to thiphlocaris salentina, a small blind crab belonging to a species which became extinct more than 200,000 years ago.

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Population: 3557
Province: Lecce
Patron Saint: Madonna Annunziata (23 aprile)
Area Code: 0836
Town website: www.comunedicastro.it

Sources: By the editorial staff
Updated on: 08/09/2010

European Union
Regione Puglia Regione Puglia
Department Mediterranean -
Culture - Tourism

© Copyright Regione Puglia 2007-2012
Puglia Promozione

Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.