Castello Nelson, Maniace, Italy

Admiral Horatio Nelson received the estate of nine million hectares together with the title of Duke of Bronte as a gift from the Bourbon King of the Two Sicilies after he helped the king to escape certain death during the revolution of Naples in 1796. Nelson himself never lived on the property but his descendants the Hood-Bridgeport’s took possession of the dukedom until the final heir sold it to the city of Bronte in 1981.

Originally the castle was a fortified monastery and remained in the Nelson family until the 1980s. There is a wonderful little English garden behind the castle, the rooms feature tiled pavements from Caltagirone and the original furniture, books and paintings of Nelson's niece. The entrance fee is low and there are guided tours.

Castles and fortifications in Italy

User Reviews

Antonio Grimaldi (20 months ago)
Church rebuilt on the remains of a former Benedictine abbey. Inside it preserves valuable works dating back to the Byzantine period. It is located inside Nelson Castle.

giuseppe severini (3 years ago)
It is a place full of charm, surrounded by nature. the sculptures of the Romanesque portal are very original. The whole structure is admirable. a rare testimony of advanced Romanesque in Sicily

mario migneco (4 years ago)
beautiful

Maurizio Bonaccio (4 years ago)
Not for the place that I think is beautiful only because it has been under restoration since 2016 and is poorly reported. At the moment, like all Italian stories, it is not known when it will reopen. Poor Italy

Enrico Zappala' (4 years ago)
Wonderful place of peace, full of history. Closed for years for works from the mysterious biblical times. I am a regular visitor to the place. I will modify my review by giving 5 stars and adding photos when it reopens.

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