Route Through The Beautiful Castles Of Sicily

The castles of Sicily are the result of many centuries of battles that took place in the strategic places of control of the Mediterranean. Different cultures colonized and fought over this island, now Italian, in which castles and fortresses were built and rebuilt a thousand times.

Currently, there is a tourist route that runs through some of the most important. And visiting them you can visit practically the entire island, as there are more than 200 throughout the territory. Are you coming with us to meet any of them?

Sicilian castles of the Chiaramonte family

There are several, but the most characteristic are found in the Agrigento region, in the south-central area of ​​the island. They are the castle of Racalmuto, the castle Chiaramontano de Naro and the castle of the town of Favaro.

The castle of Falconara

Following the coastline to the east we find the Falconara castle. It is a defensive complex dating from the 14th century and which was dedicated to the training of falcons, hence its name.

And near him is the castle of Donnafugata. An impressive castle-palace in which legend has it that the White Widow Queen of Navarra, regent of Sicily, was imprisoned after the death of King Martin of Aragon.

Tafuri Castle, the southernmost of Sicily’s castles

At the southern tip of the island of Sicily is Portopalo di Cappo Passero. It is a small town that among its monuments has an impressive castle, today converted into a hotel. Located on a rocky promontory, at night it lights up as a beacon for the small fishing village where it is located.

Maniace Castle in Syracuse

Continuing along the coastline of the island of Sicily heading north we find the castle of Maniace. It is a defensive castle on the tip of the island of Ortigia, in Syracuse. It served to defend the population during the various attacks it received and the second wife of King Ferdinand the Catholic, Germana de Foix, stayed there.

Castles of Catania

Catania, the easternmost province of the island, is home to several of the most incredible castles in Sicily. In that area we can enjoy the Acicastello castle, located on a cliff next to the sea.

Also here are the Ursino castle, the site of the first Sicilian parliament, the Paterno castle and the castle built by Count Ruggero. The latter is of Arab origin and still retains part of its essence and Islamic-style decoration.

Castles of Sicily in the north of the island: Carini, Palermo and Castelmola

The northern part of the island of Sicily is also plagued with defensive castles. The castle of Carini has a rugged legend. It seems that it was the scene of a crime that occurred in 1563. The victims, Laura Lanza and her lover, were murdered by her husband and father.

In the city of Palermo we find the Castello a Mare. It is a castle located in the vicinity of the port and whose origin dates back to the 9th century, when the island was dominated by the Arabs. In it the residence of the viceroys of the island was installed and it was also the seat of the Court of the Holy Inquisition.

Meanwhile, in the province of Messina we can find the castle of Castelmola. They are ruins that crown the medieval town of Castelmola and that look out to the sea through a balcony located more than 500 meters high.

Castles in central Sicily

In the center of the island we find the Lombardy Castle in Enna. It is the emblem of the city and is built on a large rock that serves as a natural defense. Of all the castles in Sicily, it is the largest, with an area of ​​23,000 m².

In the same region is the castle of Castelferrato, a fortification that more than a castle is a pierced mountain. The rocky promontory has fanciful shapes that look like castle towers. In them the rock was drilled to be the passageways, windows and doors of the castle. A most interesting place.