Castelcivita

The Angevin Tower dominates the village of Castelcivita set on a rocky spur of the Alburni Massif, 587 m above sea level. The town has an ancient fortress’ structure and is characterized by streets and alleys that intersect each other, and countless steps. Interesting are the portals with local limestone and piperno lintels on which you can still admire the coats of arms of noble families.

The monastery of St. Sofia, now called Santa Gertrude
On the impressive altar of the single-nave Church you can admire a picture of the Pietà, a masterpiece by Giovanni de Gregorio, known as Pietrafesa, painted in 1627. In the counter-façade, stands the wooden choir, whose balustrade is painted with figures of late Rococo taste. It was erected in 1761, during the Regency of sister Candida Bellelli. In Nicola Agosto Street, you can visit the Museum of the Peasant Culture and the ancient parish church of Saint Cono, finished in 1344.

Crossing the Perdonanza portal you can admire the high Altar of 1760 by Giovanni La Mania, marble artist from Padula, the sculpture of the Virgin of Constantinople and the wooden choir the 18th century. The pulpit, dating back to 17th century, has splendid bas-reliefs that portray the Evangelists and Saint Cono. Before leaving the Church, on the right, where it is currently located the baptismal font, you can visit the Church’s crypt of medieval origin, decorated by a late eighteenth-century stucco.

Church of San Nicola di Bari, with the precious wooden choir of the late 15th century.
It’s a single nave church; the Altar was built in 1758, whereas the choir is in late-Gothic style, probably from the late 15th century. On the Altar sides there are eighteenth century canvases portraying the Annunciation and the birth of John the Baptist.
In the higher part of the town stands the Angevin Tower, built in the last decades of the 13th century by French craftsmen. Little departed, is the structure of the former convent of Sant'Antonio and its Church, which kept the portray of the Immaculate Conception by Pietrafesa painted between 1627 and 1630. Outside the convent rises the chapel of the Virgin of Graces, dating back to the 16th century.

The Angevine Tower
An imposing 25 meters high monument, located at the highest point of the town that overlooks the Calore Valley. It is uncertain its date of construction, even if the most authoritative hypothesis dates it between 1268 and 1284. This building is linked to one of the most notorious events of Italian history: the Sicilian Vespers. At that time Castelcivita was called Civita Pantuliano. The Sicilian revolt broke out in 1282 and spread across the continent. The Sicilians and Aragoneses sent their soldiers, called Almugàveri, against the Angevins of Naples. They besieged the town and made it their base that, thanks to its location, was almost impregnable. It was an obstacle for the Angevins who had to rush to the aid of the French in Sicily. The inevitable battle was resolved three years later by Carlo Martello in favor of the Allied Neapolitans. The Tower, irresistible tourist attraction, is circular with a diameter of about fifteen meters. The lowest storey was dug inside the escarpment, and it shifted from prison to warehouse. On the floor above (the ground floor) lived the feudal lord. Above this there are two more rooms whose access was presumably allowed by wooden ladders or ropes.

Castelcivita Caves
It’s the best attraction of the town, please read about it in depth.