St. Costabile Gentilcore was the most important person of the history of Castellabate. He was the IVth abbot of Trinità of Cava de’ Tirreni. The 10th October 1123 he became abbot and the same year he started to build the castle which has been named CASTRUM ABBATIS becoming later Castellabate.
Simeone, the following abbot completed the castle and during the years he always helped population; Castellabate became slowly the most important domain in Cilento.
1553 the lawyer Marino Freccia bought Castellabate. After years he sold the property to Carlo Caracciolo. Then Castellabate was property of the Loffredo family; then of Filomarino family which were earl of Rocca d’Aspide. 1619 Francesco Matarazzo, son and heir of Alessandro and Tommaso Filomarino della Rocca got permission to sell castle and further property. Following to the sale Castellabate became property of Granito family, which got the title of ‘marquis’ the 29th novembre 1745. The 20th July 1767, following heritage the property passed to Angelo and then to his son Luigi. As Luigi didn’t have children the castle and property passed to his nephew and then to his nephew’s son Angelo (21.10.1782 – 29.06.1861).
Angelo married Paolina.Pignatelli, princess of Belmonte. Later their son Gioacchina (02.11.1849) became prince of Belmonte (03.04.1887).
Slowly the population of Castellabate reconquested the sea. People added then fisching to farmer activity. At the end of XIXth century fisching was the principal source of economy. At the mean time other activities grew in Castellabate.In Santa Maria die Castellabate grew ship- building and preservation and diffusion of fish on the whole national market.