We immersed ourselves in the magic of Belcastro, the Calabrian village of fairy tales which with its murals made us feel like children again

Our adventure began along the road that goes up towards the interior of the province of Catanzaro, in Calabria, a route so evocative and green that it seems almost immersed in the rolling Tuscan hills. Driving between panoramic hairpin bends and glimpses of uncontaminated nature, the wait turned into pure wonder when, perched on the slopes of Sila Piccola and a stone’s throw from the Gulf of Squillace, the profile of Belcastro appeared.

The panoramic point with the large blue bench and the “LOVE” structure

Before starting the visit through the alleys of the village, visitors are welcomed by an extremely “instagrammable” panoramic point with a structure that simulates an open window with the writing Belcastro. The landscape that lies before you is breathtaking: it extends unobstructed from the green hills to the deep blue of the Ionian Sea.

Next to it stands majestically a large blue bench, one of the famous “big benches” that have become popular in Italy in recent years, next to which we find a heart-shaped metal structure with the writing “LOVE”. A spectacular point where a ritual selfie cannot be missed. And after enjoying this magnificent view for a while, we are ready to truly immerse ourselves in the magic of the fairytale land.

The magic of murals to redevelop the town

Crossing the entrance to the Castellacci district means leaving reality behind to leaf through the illustrated pages of an open-air book. Here, in fact, every corner seems to have come from a page of a fantastic story. This visual miracle comes to life thanks to the talent and vision of the artist Matteo Lupia and the mayor Antonio Torchia, who since 2021 have redeveloped a forgotten alley transforming it into a family-friendly street art route. The basic idea was to bring light back to the most neglected districts, turning faded walls, peeling windows and doors into lively canvases capable of blending ancient stone with the wonder of street art.

The kingdom of Alice and the White Rabbit in the chessboard alleys

Entering the heart of the village, you enter an enchanted world where geometries meet fantasy. On painted checkerboard floors that recall the floors of the famous Wonderland, one encounters a majestic figure of Alice who seems to extend towards visitors, inviting them to immerse themselves in her fantastic universe.

The protagonist runs chasing the anxious White Rabbit, perhaps driven by haste or fleeing from the severe Queen of Hearts, or invited to a bizarre tea by the Mad Hatter. Along the surrounding walls, colorful and crooked signs indicate unlikely directions such as “left”, “right”, “upstairs” and “back”, inviting adults and children to get lost without fear in the alleys.

The Adventures of Pinocchio and the Land of Toys

Continuing the walk you are captured by another famous fairy tale that takes shape on the walls of the houses. On the facades appear the carousels and the sparkling colors of the legendary Land of Toys, where Pinocchio and Lucignolo have carefree fun.

A little further on, the visual narration becomes more intense and warning: the Cat and the Fox are immortalized in the eternal and cunning deception of the coins hidden in the Field of Miracles, bringing back to mind all the trepidations of Carlo Collodi’s masterpiece.

The sequence of the puppet’s adventures ends spectacularly with Pinocchio desperately trying to escape from the open mouth of a gigantic whale, a mural with a strong visual impact that immediately catches the eye.

The enchantment of Peter Pan flying over London and the challenge with Captain Hook

Also unmissable are the scenes from Peter Pan, another fairy tale loved by children. One of the most fascinating paintings represents the famous flight to London scene from the Disney animation classic The Adventures of Peter Pan from 1953 with Peter Pan at the top left, dressed in his typical green tunic and pointed hat, Wendy in the blue dress, John with the top hat and little Michael clutching his teddy bear. In the background you can recognize the clock tower of Big Ben in London.

Not far away, another spectacular work depicts the adventures in Neverland: on the left dominates the majestic pirate ship of Captain Hook’s Jolly Roger sailing in the open sea, while in the center you can see the flying figure of Peter Pan in green as he escapes the clutches of the pirates, with a character falling towards the water. At the bottom right the famous crocodile emerges from the waves with its jaws wide open, ready to capture Captain Hook, while in the background you can see a small boat with the crew or lost children.

The enchanted kingdom of Snow White and the seven dwarfs among the houses of the village

The journey into fantasy continues by encountering the world of Snow White, where the Disney princess looks out lively from a fake house through a window integrated into the brickwork, ready to greet visitors. Around her, scattered along the route and hidden among the characteristic corners of the village, the friendly dwarfs appear, who animate the walls and accompany adults and children alike in a pure fairy-tale atmosphere.

The rainbow staircase and the author’s tributes

To further embellish the route, unique details are inserted which make the experience immersive and unforgettable. Among the most photographed and famous works, the rainbow staircase stands out, a 60 meter long chromatic ribbon that guides visitors along a joyful climb, conceived as a real invitation to continue the exploration step by step.

Traditional fairy tales are then accompanied by homages to culture and music, such as the work dedicated to the unforgettable Rino Gaetano, which enriches the open-air gallery.

Among the majestic stones of the Castle of the Counts of Aquino and the thousand-year history

Having left the world of childhood dreams, the village reveals its most ancient and austere soul as it climbs towards the top of the rocky spur. Here the majestic Castle of the Counts of Aquino dominates, a fortification of Norman origin which preserves an imposing square keep on three levels and houses the chapel in which local tradition places the birthplace of the famous philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas.

An emotion that remains in the heart

Belcastro showed us how the synergy between cultural valorization and creativity can bring an ancient village back to life, giving us an intimate and vibrant experience. Returning home with the colors of the murals in our eyes and the memory of this village suspended between sky and sea left us with the certainty of having experienced one of the most authentic and fairy-tale pages of our life as travellers.