The village grew around a castle whose date the historians do not agree on: Chris Wickham puts it at 1056, Carlo Perogalli at 1025. The streets of the old borough still climb towards the castle like ramps and stairways. In 1799, during the French invasion, everyone inside the stronghold was killed and the castle was burned: the villagers were never able to rebuild it.
Outside the village a cross recalls that a monster was driven from here, with four arms, long claws, a lion's head and orange fur: the parish priest had the cross put up and the monster was not seen again. In 1943 allied prisoners were hidden here, among them the South African poet Uys Krige, who wrote about it; and Ignazio Silone tells of thirty more hostages held at Roccacasale.
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📅 Every year, on 8 May and 29 September
On 8 May and 29 September Roccacasale, a municipality of 724 inhabitants in the province of L'Aquila, celebrates its patron Saint Michael the Archangel; the Festa delle Fate has been held since 1999.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Roccacasale, but an easy day trip away.
