The castle of Roccascalegna
The image of the castle of Roccascalegna is undoubtedly evocative, perched as it is on a rocky spur dominating the Rio Secco Valley and the Sangro Valley and the village below, the medieval hamlet from which it takes its name. Its origin in all probability dates back to the 5th-6th centuries and is linked to the presence of the Lombards to whom we owe the initial fortification of the fortress. Although the first written evidence on the feud of Roccascalegna is later, i.e. in 1058 when it is mentioned in the Catalogus Baronum, the Longobard origin of the castle is widely accepted.
Over the centuries, it belonged to different families, until the Nanni-Croce family who maintained the castle throughout the 19th century until 1980 when they donated it to the municipality.
The castle has obviously been modified and remodelled over the centuries, but it still retains the characteristics of the irregular layout that follows the course of the rock on which it rests, as well as the mighty walls leaning against the cliff.
Various restoration works have allowed it to be preserved and opened to the public, especially the important work completed in 1996.
The castle of Roccascalegna retains a charm all of its own: crossing the drawbridge of the castle introduces the visitor to distant mediaeval atmospheres, giving the visitor a unique experience.
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