Majestic and commanding, the Swabian Castle of Rocca Imperiale stands on the top of a hill about 250 meters above sea level, towering over the village with its terrace-like houses and offering a spectacular view of the Gulf of Taranto. Commissioned by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, it was built between 1221 and 1225, following the Edicts of Capua of 1220, by which the emperor ordered the construction or restoration of some 200 castles to strengthen the defense of the Kingdom of Sicily.
Its location was not chosen at random: the castle rose at a strategic point, along the ancient via Appia-Traiana, an artery that connected Reggio Calabria to Brindisi by skirting the Ionian Sea. The fortress was not only a military garrison but also an imperial residence, used by the Swabian court as a base for travel and hunting trips.
Over the centuries, the castle underwent a long evolution. After the death of Frederick II, it passed to the Knights of the Hierosolimitan Order, and later, in 1487, it was enlarged by Alfonso II of Aragon, who provided it with new towers and strong crenellated walls. The structure withstood numerous attacks, including that of Saracen pirates in 1664, and underwent significant transformations in the 18th century by the Crivelli dukes, who made it a sumptuous Baroque residence.
The castle is organized around a quadrangular plan, with towers from different eras: from the cylindrical Frederician tower to the windbreak tower from the Aragonese period, to the Powder Tower with a truncated cone base. A bridge and monumental portal lead into the interior, where a scenic Baroque staircase opens to the various levels: medieval kitchen, parade ground, stables, noble halls and panoramic terraces.
With the abolition of feudalism, the castle was sold to private individuals until it became the property of the municipality in 1989. After major restoration work, it is now open to the public and hosts exhibitions, cultural events and guided tours, representing one of the most fascinating examples of Swabian military architecture in Calabria.