In the interior of the Castle of Nicastro it has been possible to distinguish different types of walling that correspond to the different phases in the construction of the building. Specifically one can count at least five kinds of formats that differ from each other in materials, and which display gaps between them, bearing witness to the choices and methods of the various crafts, and to the requirements of those who commissioned the work. Construction material is made up primarily of locally available stone, sometimes a grayish-green schist used in various forms, sometimes well-worked stone, and sometimes simply cracked rubble. Limestone is often found with this material, but only in architectural elements or in corners (except where reused for insertion elsewhere), which is certainly not extracted from the region but is found in massive outcroppings in the coastal area called “Torre Lupo.”

In some structures of the building one notes the use of black volcanic stone, probably employed for its decorative quality as for its lightness, which is unique and comparable to nothing else in the area. In fact, it is not possible to clarify where it comes from, but as a hypothesis one thinks of Stromboli or the area of Mount Etna. One finds it in many places and in every form, from shapeless masses to well-squared bocks, therefore indicating a different original use and to its later reuse. As for bricks, these were used primarily in certain architectural elements (arches for wall openings) and rarely seen in the walls themselves, except where restoration was carried out.

The castle is characterized by a complex stratification, which is observed among the various structures of the building. It is possible to establish a distinctive chronology of consisting of five main phases, to which we can add the very latest construction operations in the building. The castle of Nicastro has a very long history without a final ending. It is always the earliest phases that suffer from a scarcity of data, and at the moment there is no indication to suggest the presence of an earlier structure prior to the Norman occupation.

The figure below shows, by means of different colors, the various phases of construction. To analyze them in detail, click on the links at the right of the drawing. Also, by clicking on the various structures (CF #) one can immediately access a high-resolution photo corresponding to it.

Construction phase 1 Construction phase 2 Construction phase 3 Construction phase 4 Construction phase 5