Castles of Sicily

Japanese version

Sicily シチリア州の城　日本語PDFダウンロードはこちらから

City walls, ancient slits, inaccessible moats... We are obviously talking about castles. In Sicily there are more than 200 of them, real time machines that take us to distant times, through history and legends of knights and ladies. In this itinerary we will explore the castles in the middle of the island, completely immersed in nature.

Starting from the south, we first stop near the coast and visit Gela. Its castle, named Castelluccio, rests on a chalk hill and dominates the gulf as to protect the city.. It can only be visited from the outside, but the place offers a breathtaking view over the entire lowland. The legend of the beautiful but unapproachable chatelaine is told, who anyone who dared to approach ended up disappearing into thin air. It also seems that ghosts are wandering around protecting a precious treasure, 'a truvatura, which no one has ever managed to find...

Continuing inland, the next destination is Butera. Its Castle is the central urban nucleus as the whole town has developed around it. Its origins are Arab-Norman but today its imposing ruins are used as a modern exhibition space while the internal courtyard is a public square.

Moving towards the center of Sicily, we stop in Mazzarino, a delightful baroque village that testifies its medieval origins through the imposing "Cannuni", that is the Castle of Mazzarino, so called due to the shape of its tower. If you are lucky, you will be able to attend the shows organized in the manor's theatre, while you will always enjoy a spectacular view that extends as far as Etna.

Let's move west, to Mussomeli, to visit one of the most inaccessible fortresses in Sicily. Built between the 14th and 15th centuries on a limestone massif at a height of 80 m, its structure seems to merge with the rock itself. A drawbridge, followed by a portico with an ogee arch, will let you in enormous rooms with cross vaults and stables, as large as to hold up to 50 horses. It is said that the Castle is inhabited by dark presences having been the site of many atrocious crimes: the soldier in love with Manfredi Chiaramonte's daughter, who was locked up in the tower until his death, or the three "beloved" sisters of Prince Federico who, madly jealous, made them walled up alive. Or the well-known legend of the Baroness of Carini, killed by her father for having sullied the honor of the house, whose spirit still wanders in search of her murderer who hid right here. In short, whether you believe in ghosts or not, this is a truly obligatory stop.

Let's go deeper and deeper and reach the "navel of Sicily" which, at 950 m above sea level, is the highest capital in Italy. We are talking about Enna. Already from a distance you will see the Castle di Lombardia, located in the highest point of the city. Its current shape comes from a former Swabian layout, but has its roots in the fortress that the Sicans built over two millennia ago. With its 26,000 square meters of surface area, it is one of the largest medieval castles in Italy and it was here that Frederick II of Swabia convened the first Sicilian Parliament. Inside the Emperor Frederick III of Aragon home and his small private church are well kept.

After having almost touched the stars, let's get back, heading north, and reach the last stop of our tour: Sperlinga Castle. A spectacular fortress entirely dug into the rock, around surrounded by the ancient inhabited center: around fifty caves that made up the so-called "Byzantine citadel" and that, today, constitute an anthropological museum. From here the view of the landscape is incomparable. Inside, the reception room, the chapel and the mullioned window are still visible.

If you are not yet tired of ladies, ghosts and castles, you can continue the tour of the castles in the west, east or south of Sicily or visit the castles of Etna.

1. On the outskirts of Piazza Armerina, there is one of the most prestigious monumental witness of the late ancient period in the Mediterranean: the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 4th century AD. it is decorated with enchanting mosaics, one of the most beautiful and well preserved example of this kind or art.
2. Between Enna and Piazza Armerina, the Floristella Grottacalda Mining Park is an open-air museum that brings together the two abandoned sulfur mines: one of the most representative examples of industrial archeology in southern Italy. The fascinating Palazzo Pennisi, the ancient residence of the owner family, dominates the whole site.
3. Gastronomic tour. Take note of the products you absolutely must try with the I.G.P. and D.O.P. mark for their excellence and specificity. Among the sheep's milk cheese, the finest one is the Enna piacentinu with its characteristic yellow color given by the local saffron; provola and supprissata from Nicosia, vastedda cu' sammucu from Troina,the prickly pear mustard from Gagliano, the cassatelle from Agira, the tortone from Sperlinga, buccellati from Enna, black lentils, September peach from Leonforte, oil from Enna hills, the Dittaino loaf, the vinciatutti almond, the cudduruni with honey and the fig or almond buccellati from Mussomeli.
4. Between Catania and Enna, Lake Pozzillo offers the opportunity of trekking and rowing while immersed in the lushing nature of the hinterland, sided by the magnificent panorama of Etna.
5. Shopping in the heart of Sicily. In Dittaino, in the province of Enna, we find the largest village on the island hosting the best Italian and international brands retails. But if you are fond of handicraft, don't miss a visti at the caves of Sperlinga Castle, where you can find 6 manufactoring laboratories of the frassata, the typical local carpet, weaved with used clothing fabrics. Antique loom weaving courses are also organized here.

1. See Sicily

1. visitsicily.info