Caccamo Castle, Caccamo, Italy

The Castello di Caccamo is among the largest and best preserved Norman castles in Sicily, and one of the largest in Italy. The castle is built on a steep cliff.

The castle as it is today was built by Matthew Bonnellus in the 12th century. It was later modified by the Chiaramontes in the 14th century, and by other rulers until the 17th century.

Caccamo castle is a large structure built of white stone, having an irregular plan. It has walls with V-shaped battlements, towers, a moat and a courtyard. The interior consists of a maze of rooms and stairways.

The most notable room within the castle is the Sala della Congiura, also known as the Conspiracy Hall. In 1160, some Norman barons met in this room to plot against William I of Sicily, but the rebellion failed.

The castle was inhabited by descendants of the Dukes of Caccamo until it was purchased by the Region of Sicily in October 1963. By this time, the castle was in ruins. Restoration work funded by the Region of Sicily began in 1974.

Today, the castle is open to the public. A restaurant called A Castellana is located on the ground level of the castle, while other parts of the structure are also used for conferences and meetings.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Giuseppe Gallo (5 years ago)
It Is very difficult to find a Castel likes that in Sicily

dusty (5 years ago)
excellent castle on the whole for all those in sicily; half of signage is only in italian language; staff only speaks italian; no credit cards are accepted for admission; no food or beverages are present; a passable bathroom is available after paying entry fee.

Michael Nadin (5 years ago)
Dusty and disorganised but worth a visit if you're a castle lover.

Raffaele Santagati (5 years ago)
One of the best conserved castles from the midle ages in Sicily. Stunning views and very fun to see

Mark Daniel (5 years ago)
The cattle has some great things to look at. Although I did think it could be better sign posted so that you can see it all.

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The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.

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