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This is almost the top of the mountain where Castellabate (Campania, Italy) and its fortress is located. You can go further a couple of hundred yards/meters during the day - there may be parking places.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - "Il Botteghino" a place for tourist to hang around in search of snacks and drinks before restaurants are opened for lunch. It is located very close to the castle on top of the hill.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - looking back on the roads to the town's castle at the top of the hill. The fastest road is SS 267 from Agropoli (about 7.5 miles or 12 km) to Santa Maria di Castellabate and then up the hill (that's the road visible on the left side of the photo).

Views form Castellabate (Campania, Italy) are breathtaking. This photo shows Santa Maria di Castellabate, a sea town thanks to which Castellabate is also considered a sea resort even if the latter is not directly on the sea.

That's how Castellabate - its hill and the castle - look from Santa Maria di Castellabate. The driving town between the two places is about 5 - 7 minutes (depending on how fast you can handle the road with multiple 180-degree turns). The modern looking building on top of the hill sits inside the castle (or what remain of it).

The is the part of the street with limited traffic leading to the Castellabate's castle entrance. The street is opened for traffic during daytime, and if you arrive with a car and are lucky, you can find a parking sport here - no parking fees, no limit.

The castle in Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - from this point you have to walk. There is not much left from the original castle - mostly walls and some bastions. The building you see on right side of the photo was erected inside the castle and used for for temporary expositions.

This rather large square in front of the castle (Castellabate, Campania, Italy) is a wonderful spot to spend some time and enjoy amazing views on the good part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Two sides of the "piazzetta" or square in front of the Castellabate's castle for an observation platform located 912 feet (278 m) above the sea with excellent views on the villages of Santa Maria di Castellabate on one side and San Marco on the other

Zooming-in onto Santa Maria di Castellabate from the observation platform in front of the castle in Castellabate (Campania, Italy)

Now we are looking south on San Marco di Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - another famous tourist town received the "European Blue Flag" for beaches thanks to the wonderful beach of Pozzillo.

Zooming out while still looking at San Marco di Castellabate from the observation platform in front of the castle in Castellabate (Campania, Italy). In the foreground, you can see the Passeggiata Belvedere (Belvedere Walk) going almost to foot of the hill. Punta Licosa (Point Licosa), the last part of the Gulf of Salerno, is in the background.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - the entrance to Passeggiata Belvedere (Belvedere Walk). If you have time, explore at least the beginning of this stairway.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy), Passeggiata Belvedere (Belvedere Walk). While going down (or up), you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Santa Maria di Castellabate. Punta Tresino (Point Tresino is visible in the background).

This is just another view on Passeggiata Belvedere (Belvedere Walk, Castellabate, Campania, Italy) and what surrounds it. The Passeggiata crosses several times the road from Castellabate and Santa Maria. So, if you not want to do the whole walk, you can always return back by the road (which is not as steep as the Walk).

Meanwhile, let's return back to the Castellabate's castle - here is the entrance to its premises. There is a sign: the castle is open to public from 9 AM to 12 noon and from 4 PM to 8 PM. If you missed it, do not worry too much. There is not much to see. And you do not go to Castellabate to visit an exposition of some local contemporary art either.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - as far as the castle is concerned, its walls made of stone are the same outside and inside.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - the castle is actually called the Angel's Castle. It was founded by Costabile Gentilcore (c. 1070–1124 also known as Saint Constabilis, an Italian abbot and saint. His title gave the village built around the castle its present name of Castellabate from Castrum Abbatis, Latin for "the castle of the abbot".

A statue dedicated to San Costabile IV, Abbot of Cava. Constabilis is venerated as the patron saint of Castellabate, for the reason that he founded the town and as the protector of sailors. During his life, the abbot was known for his extraordinary meekness and charity towards all the brothers.

"In the millennium of the founding of the Monastery of SS. Trinity of Cava as a sign of faith and filial love for San Costabile IV, Abbot of Cava. In lasting memory, the municipal administration, February 17, 2011." The inscription reflects the fact that Saint Constabilis was the abbot of La Trinità della Cava founded in 1011 in Cava de' Tirreni.

So, it's noon time. The castle (Castellabate, Italy) is closed - there is nothing else to do but having lunch. On obvious place to do this is the Restaurant Il Calesse located next to the entrance to the castle.

Nice thing about Restaurant Il Calesse (Via Belvedere, 84048 Castellabate, Italy) is that it has a nice garden where the food is served. It is very cozy and quiet. The restaurant is not perfect as far its food is concerned. But in my opinion from the point of view of price/value ratio is the best in old town.

Restaurant Il Calesse (Castellabate, Campania, Italy) - menu. Prices (2011) are moderate: for example, antipasti are €7 - 8; first courses €8 -12; main courses €10 -20. Pizza is not served during lunch. Decent table wine at a good price is available as well (€7/bottle).

The main attraction in Castellabate (Campania, Italy) is not its castle but well preserved old town center. It does not take much time to explore it - just start walking around the castle with some additional exploration of adjacent streets and corners. One or two hours will be more than enough.

One of the first places you come across while touring Castellabate (Campania, Italy) is piazza (square) Nicola Perrotti. The chapel San Pasquale in the photo belonged (and perhaps still does) to Perrotti, one of the old families in Castellabate. Joachim-Napoléon Murat visited Castellabate in 1811 and stayed in this place as a guest of family Perrotti.

Another view on piazza (square) Nicola Perrotti (Campania, Italy). The name of Perrotti is closely associated with Castellabate. For example, I've heard that the restaurant Il Calesse (which is very close to the square) is owned by one of the members of the family.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) offers excellent views not only on coastal villages and their sandy beaches but also on surrounding hills. Just look at the location of this house - truly amazing!

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) is a very picturesque medieval town. Perhaps those majestic views inspired Joachim Murat (the brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte) to say "Qui non si muore" during his visit to Castellabate in November 1811 - it means "No one dies here."

"Voglio
Che La Mia Casa Sia Aperta
Al Sole, Al Vento,
Alla Voce Del Mare
Come Un Tempio Greco…" (I want my mouse to be open to the sun, the wind to the sound of sea like a Greek temple...)

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) is full of corners, small passages, hidden turns. Despite heavy use of stone as a construction material, there are many green areas and flowers. The town produces very relaxing experience.

Castellabate (Campania, Italy) - medieval wall of the castle.

The bell tower of the Papal Basilica de Santa Maria Gulia (Castellabate, Italy)

Zooming in on Romanesque bell tower (Castellabate, Italy)

Romanesque bell tower (Castellabate, Italy) - material and construction details

Romanesque bell tower (Castellabate, Italy) - material and construction details. The masonry work shows interesting decoration pattern created by inserting chips of bricks into the mortar.

These are steps of many stairways in Castellabate (Italy). It seems like the openings clearly visible in the photo are a part of the drainage system in the ancient town (similar holes are also found in many pathways) to collect rain water that would otherwise rushed through the streets.

Cappella (Chapel) di San Berhardino ora del Rosario, Confraternita del SS. Rosario, 16th century.

Cupola (dome) of the Papal Basilica de Santa Maria Gulia (Castellabate, Italy)

The center of Castellabate retains the medieval urban structure, where narrow streets, alleys, arches, terraces, palaces, chapels, squares and houses coexist without much planning eventually descending from the top to the bottom of the hill. This photo shows the foot of the Torre Merlata located on the adjacent street several feet apart.

Torre Merlata (Castellabate, Italy) as seen from the adjacent street (see also previous photo).

Streets full of corners, arcades, labyrinth stairways lead through Castellabate (Italy) - for the record, this is via Guglielmo Normanno (does not tell you much). The Torre Merlata is on the right side - but to understand the layout of the setting I am trying to show you need to go back to the previous two photos; see also next photo.

An example of the "vertical" layout of Catellabate I am trying to illustrate: Basilica Pontifica is at the top of the photo whereas the street goes down to Torre Merlata shown before.

Entrance to the Museo d'Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art, Castellabate, Campania, Italy) is located at the lower level of Torre Merlata. It is open 5 PM - 8 PM summer time and from 10 AM - noon, 3 PM - 5PM during winter months.

Via G. B. Forziati in Castellabate (Italy) - another example of medieval urban "planning." Yet, in all this chaos there is a hidden harmony and charm - and the sea is here and there between the lines of the roofs.

Restaurant Il Gaicco (Via San Biagio 5, Castellabate, Italy), entrance. This is one of the best restaurants in old town. The entrance in the photo is a bit deceiving - in reality, Il Gaicco offers a large terrace with garden and breathtaking views of the coastline and sea.

Cantina Belvedere (via Belvedere 1, 84048 Castellabate, Italy ) - another restaurant in the old town with relatively good reviews. The restaurant is in an excellent position to enjoy the views. Pizzeria Belvedere is on the ground floor below the main restaurant.

Walking through the labyrinth of streets and passages in Castellabate (Italy). Some of the narrowest passages go beneath the adjoining houses.

Via Servo di Dio D.Nicola M.Matarazzo (Castellabate, Italy). Matarazzo family is one of the oldest in Castellabate. One of the most prominent of it is considered Francesco Matarazzo (1854 - 1937) born in Castellabate. He was an earl and Italian-Brazilian businessman, the founder of the largest industrial complex in Latin America in early 20th century.

Memorial plate dedicated to Francesco Matarazzo (Castellabate, Italy)

Castellabate is the main town of the Castellabate comune. It is a charming place and visiting the medieval town is the time well spent. But is everything else our visit comes to its end - however, at the foot of the hill there is Santa Maria a "frazione" of Castellabate. I am looking forward to see it as well.