The name seems to say castle of Mars, but the matter is murkier: the Gaulish root marth means both war and sacrifice, and in medieval deeds the village is called Castelmartoro, that is, castle of the martyrs. For centuries the two readings lived side by side, until the Prina, lords of the place, chose the military version and took the eagle of the legions as their emblem.
A Roman eagle carved in serizzo stone is still set into the façade of the town hall, and an ancient tombstone is embedded in the apse of the parish church. The village was a link in the Limes Bizantinum, the chain of towers within sight of one another reaching as far as the Baradello and Lecco. In 1285, having sided with the Visconti, it was put to fire and sword by the Torriani.
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📅 Every year, on the last Sunday of August
On the last Sunday of August Castelmarte, a municipality of 1,286 inhabitants in the province of Como, celebrates its patron San Giovanni Evangelista.
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 Castelmarte, but an easy day trip away.
