Towns and cities in Puglia
Castro Travel Guide
Perched atop a precipitous cliff, 100m above the sea, Castro looks out across the Adriatic towards Corfu and southern Albania, from where, it is said, Aeneas once arrived. Recent archaeological digs point to the probability of there having been a Temple of Athena on the site and this handily explains why the Romans called the town Castrum Minervae (Minerva being the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Athena).
Villa Matchmaking service
Because our local experts have personally visited each of our destinations, we know exactly what makes them special. Tell us what your ultimate villa holiday looks like, and allow us take care of the rest
About the town
The Normans took control of the town in the 12th century, elevated it to a contea and started building the impressive fortress, which, alongside the defensive walls and towers, is one of Castro’s most significant attractions. Similarly venerable is Castro’s religious architecture, which includes a 12th century cathedral with a delightful Romanesque façade, and the remains of a small 10th century Byzantine church.
Things to do in Castro
Explore the old centre: narrow roads weave around the old town centre and it’s a pleasure to stroll around, stopping off for refreshments in one of the bars or restaurants. All roads, it seems, lead to the main square and the panoramic terrazza, from where the views out to sea are superb.
Head down to the sea: on the coast below the old town is Castro Marina, which comes alive in the summer months, with bars, restaurants and cafés opening up along the seafront. The little harbour, usually home only to the town’s small fishing fleet, welcomes impressive yachts and pleasure boats. The rocky shoreline and crystalline waters attract swimmers and sunbathers, and the lidos fill up with holidaymakers from mid-June to mid-September.
Your keys to our house
Sign up to our newsletter for beautiful villas, destinations and things to do
Voted best villa rental company in the world seven years in a row
