Montalbano Castle - Montalbano Elicona (ME) - One of the most beautiful villages in Italy - Sicily
- Tuttitaly
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Two permanent museums are located in the castle's rooms: the Educational Museum of Medieval Bladed Weapons and the Educational Museum of Ancient Musical Instruments. Among the sidearms on display are spears, halberds, and heraldic coats of arms but also precious Aragonese royal costumes... #tuttitaly
The Montalbano Elicona Castle is one of Sicily's historical and architectural gems. It is located on a rocky promontory overlooking the charming medieval village. This imposing structure, a testament to different historical epochs, encloses centuries of history and culture within its walls.
Its origins can be traced back to Byzantine and Arab influences, but it acquired its current form under the Normans, Swabians, and Aragonese. The structure is divided into two parts: the Norman-Swabian fortress in the upper part and the Swabian-Aragonese fortified palatium in the lower part.
The crenellated perimeter walls represent a significant example of defensive architecture, while the windows and portals opened by King Frederick II of Aragon testify to the transformation of the building into a sumptuous royal residence.
One of the castle's most fascinating elements is the royal chapel of Byzantine origin, which, according to some theories, may even house the remains of Arnaldo da Villanova, a prominent figure of the 13th century. Restoration works in the 1980s returned the castle to its ancient beauty, although with an interesting detail: the swallow-tail merlons were replaced with rectangular merlons, giving the building a Guelph impression rather than Ghibelline.
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