The first reference to the Norman castle at Stilo is from May 7, 1093 in a concession act of the Great Count to Saint Bruno: "elegerunt itaque quondam solitudinis locum inter locum qui dicitur Arena et oppidum quod appelatur Stilum".

[1] In the 13th century, it was one of the seventeen castles in Calabria managed by Reale Curia during the reign of Charles I of Naples and it was also used as a prison.

In that period, it was subjected to maintenance as written in folio 233 of 1281 of Regia Zecca Archive.

[2] In the registry of April 14, 1323, it was written that Duke of Calabria, son of King Robert give to Noble, Contestabile, Baron of Settingiano Marco the "Castellania of Stilo" (ruling the Castle of Stilo) to him and his descents.

But at the half-point, the drumming suddenly stopped and the drummer boy mysteriously vanished without a trace.