ruffo carsle of scilla,
also known as ruffo castle of calabria

MAGNA GRAECIA AND ROMAN TIMES

The earliest fortification on the rock of Scylla dates back to the beginning of the 5th century B.C. when, during Anaxila’s reign, the city of Reggio rose to such importance that it was able to obstruct the rise of rivalling powers for more than two centuries. In fact, in 493 B.C., Anaxila the Younger ruler of Reggio, with the deployment of a considerable army, defeated the Etruscan pirates – who held in Scylla a secure foothold there for their raids – and began the works for the construction of a high fortress to put an end to their incursions. This became an important outpost for Anaxilaus to control sea routes.

The fortification work on the high rock was completed by the subsequent tyrants of Reggio, who were often engaged in clashes with pirates. The fortified harbour, built on purpose in the surrounding area, towards Punta Pacì, well served its function as inaccessible stronghold on the opposite side of the rock. A bastion of security for the people of Reggio, equipped with a landing place, the Scylla fortification was of fundamental importance to the success of the war against piracy, enabling the tyrants of Reggio to put up a valid resistance against the attacks of new enemies for a long time, even amidst the defeated Tyrrhenian pirates’ continued attempts at revenge.

The Reggio dominion over the area was interrupted for only fifty years by Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, who subdued the fortress in 390 B.C. after a long siege. In the fifty years between the destruction wrought by Dionysius and the regaining of independence favoured by Timoleon of Corinth, who overthrew the tyrannical power of Syracuse (340 B.C.), the Tyrrhenians reoccupied the fortress.

Once back to normal, Scylla returned into the orbit of Reggio. The cliff slowly became a true fortress, so much so that in the 3rd century B.C., the fortifications of the Regginians, allied with the Romans, successfully resisted the Punic and their Bruzi allies’ attacks.

Later, emperor Octavian, once he had disposed of his rival Pompeus, having realised the strategic importance of the cliff of Scylla, which had offered him suitable refuge, decreed that it should be further fortified. In fact, Pliny the Elder mentions Scylla as Oppidum Scyllaeum (Naturalis historia, III, 76), where oppidum in Latin is a term used to indicate a large fortified settlement.

The Greek geographer Strabo writes about the Skyllaion (in Greek Σκυλλαίον, the original Greek name for the place): ‘After the Metaurus river there is another Metaurus; then follows the Skyllaion promontory, in an elevated position, forming a peninsula with a small isthmus that can be landed on either side. Anasilaus, tyrant of Rhegion, fortified it against the Tyrrhenians, making it a naval station; he thus prevented the pirates from crossing the Strait: in fact, close by is the promontory of Caenys … which is Italy’s last extremity to form the Strait […]”

Middle Ages

The noble Ruffo family’s coat of arms and the plaque celebrating the restoration of the castle were carried out in the 16th century. Excavations have brought to light wall structures of the Basilian monastery of San Pancrazio, built in the mid-9th century as a defence against Saracen raids.

In 1060, with the siege of Reggio by the Normans Roger and Robert Guiscard, the castle of Scylla also resisted for a long time and surrendered only because of starvation. Robert Guiscard then stationed a military garrison on the fortress.

In 1255, by order of Manfredi, Pietro Ruffo further fortified the fortress by assigning a garrison to it, while in the 13th century the castle was further fortified by Charles I of Anjou. In 1469, King Ferdinand I of Naples granted the castle to Gutierre De Nava, a Castilian knight close to the Aragonese court and originally from Germany – from whom the De Nava family of Reggio descended- who commissioned new extension and restoration works.

In 1543, the castle was purchased by Paolo Ruffo, who decided to restore the baronial palace since the Ruffo family was granted the princely title in 1578.

Modern and Contemporary Period

The strong earthquake of 1783, which damaged the entire Strait area and part of southern Calabria, did not spare the castle of Scylla, which became State property in 1808 and was restored in 1810. The terrible earthquake of 1908 destroyed much of the ancient castle structure, while in 1913 the upper part was closed to contain the lighthouse. Later, during the fascist period, some rooms were divided into flats for employees and civil servants, which contributed to the damage of what remained of the structure.

For the last thirty years, the castle has been used as a youth hostel, but today, after a new restoration, it is destined to become a cultural centre, housing the Regional Centre for the Recovery of Calabria’s Historic Towns and hosting exhibitions and conferences.

Architecture

The castle of Scylla stands on the promontory that divides the two beaches of Marina Grande and Chianalea. The building features an irregular plan with parts dating back to different eras, but on the whole still retains the fairly homogeneous configuration of a fortress with inner walls, towers and loopholes. The entrance is preceded by a bridge that leads to the building, where the main hall is characterised by a stone portal built with a pointed arch, on which one can see the Ruffo family’s coat of arms and a plaque celebrating the restoration of the castle carried out in the 16th century. Past the low vaulted entrance hall, a courtyard opens up, and from here, a grand staircase leads to the entrance of the residence. This has large halls, having been owned by one of the richest and most important families of the Kingdom of Naples.

The lighthouse

Given the castle’s dominant position over the Messina Strait, a lighthouse was built in 1913 to provide a reference point for ships crossing the strait. The Scylla lighthouse, a small white tower with a black base, is still active today and is operated by the Navy.