Castello dell' Abate  -  The Abbot's Castle

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      See The Castle Story below and pricing.  

The mayor of Castellabate performs legal civil weddings at the foot of the legendary Castello dell'Abate  -  a rare 10th century castle.   .The castle sits  high at the top of the ancient hill-town of Castellabate over looking the sea, with the mountains of The Amalfi and the Isle of Capri as backdrop.  Castellabate is one of the more unspoiled, authentic hill towns in Italy.  Note:  there are no accommodations at the Castle.  This is for a civil ceremony only.

There are two spots at the castle to have a civil wedding ceremony only:

• Outside at the foot of the castle turrets overlooking the sea  -  see photo above and photo below of Mariam and Colin's wedding.   Wedding Hosting Fee - 700 euros.  (limited to 40 people MAX  -  standing only - no chairs).

• In the Ancient Courtyard - this would be for Larger weddings  - see photo further below to give you an idea of what it could look like if you order the Arch, etc..  NOTE:  the chairs would be white skirted chairs, not the wicker below .  Wedding Hosting Fee - 700 euros. + 10.50 euros per person for up to 40 chairs max.  If more than 40, the rest would have to stand.  Note:  Flowers and aisle runner are not included.  You should order at least an Arch or 2 ceremony arrangements to dress up the courtyard.  See flower page for prices.

  Note:  In the event of rain, the ceremony would be held inside a room in the Castle. 

One of the following hotels would be for accommodations and where the reception would be held and is convenient for the castle which is about a 10 minute drive to the hill town of Castellabate.

• Hotel Villa Sirio - Note:  You can also have the ceremony at the hotel.

• Grand Hotel Santa Maria - Note:  You can also have the ceremony at the hotel.

• L'Approdo - Note:  You can also have the ceremony at the hotel.

Mariam & Colin at The Foot of The Castle with The Bay & The Coast of The Amalfi as Backdrop

A Bridal Walk By The Castle Walls

The castle at the top of the hill

The Basilica Just Outside of Castle

A View of The Ancient Fishing Port of San Marco

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Mariam & Colin at The Foot of The Castle with The Bay & The Coast of The Amalfi as Backdrop

Inside the courtyard.

A Brief History of The Castle

1123  -  October 10th, the castle construction began on the initiative of Costabile Gentilcore’s (the fourth abbot of Badia di Cava dei Tirreni monastery). The village is extended around it. Previously, these lands experienced the presence of the Longobards and Normans, and the presence of Basilan monks, refugees from east. The Longobards, devoted to Archangel San Michele, after converting it to Christianity named the hill, where the castle was later built. Under the Norman’s occupancy, the Benedictine monks reclaimed the lands, and earned the privilege to build a fortress to defend the population from Saracens that from Agripoli, where they settled, set off for their invasions.

1138  -  Beato Simeone, the fifth abbot of Badia di Cava dei Tirreni monastery, after completing the fortress following the death of Costabile Gentilcore in 1124 and after the port for trading purposes was built, donated to his citizens a certification conceding them large privileges such as: houses, lands and tax reduction. Thanks to the castle, that became a safe refuge for inhabitants of that area and to the trade and commercial development, Castellabate became the richest baronial land of Cilento.

1835 -  the old baron palace was sold to a private owner: that is how, after 700 years, the Benedictine presence in the castle, ends.