Castrovillari lies in the north of Calabria, close to the border withBasilicata and within thePollino National Park. The town is surrounded by mountains includingPollino (2,248 m) andDolcedorme (2,273 m), also part of the Pollino National Park.
The name derives probably from themedieval Latincastrum villarum, meaning "fortress of the villas". The place is inhabited since prehistoric times. The city was founded, or better fortified, during the medieval wars between theLombards and theByzantine Empire; the name comes from a more ancient fortress called "Sassonion" or "Saxonion", so the "Castron" appeared in some documents as "Neon Sassonion", likely the ancient Byzantine name corresponding to the medieval Latin "Castrum Villarum". Officially the city entered the history in 1064 AD when the "Castra" was occupied byNorman warriors led byRobert Guiscard. In 1090, during the county of his sonRoger Borsa, the sanctuary of "Saint Mary of the Castle"Madonna del Castello was built.
During theHouse of Hohenstaufen rule in southern Italy, the town obtained the title of city and was the starting point for the evangelization of Calabria by the Minor Friars Order, founded by St. Francis from Assisi.
The first Franciscan Monastery in Calabria ("Protoconvento francescano") was built here in 1220 by Pietro Cathin from Sant'Andrea of the Marca, the first Order's Prior in Calabria. the castle was built in 1490 during the Aragonese rule in southern Italy.
Castrovillari local chess team plays in the second division of the Italian team competition. Regardingfootball, the most representative team is theU.S. Castrovillari Calcio, commonly known as Castrovillari. The team played for several seasons in theSerie C2,[4] the fourth highest football league in Italy and the lowest with a professional status. Its home ground is the "Mimmo Rende Stadium".
.svg)
