The Digital Astronomical Planetarium was recently inaugurated in Castroreale, a place that allows all its visitors to get to know the sky and its stars more closely.
A visit to this new attraction can be the right occasion for a guided tour of Castroreale, the ancient one Aragonese village which is a small architectural jewel surrounded by the mountain range of the Peloritans.
Here, then, is everything you need to know to better organize your visit.
What is the Digital Astronomical Planetarium of Castroreale
It is an observation point that has been created inside a historic building whose construction dates back to 1571. At the planetary was given the name of Andromeda, the famous constellation, as if to underline the link that the observation point will have with the sky and with all its secrets. From an architectural point of view, this simulator is equipped with a semicircle dome, with a diameter of 3.5 meters, in a soffit position so as to have a perfect view. Inside the dome there are some projectors that transmit real-time images of over 23 celestial bodies, precisely to give the sensation of a realistic vision of what is happening in space.
What you can do in the Digital Astronomical Planetarium of Castroreale
The whole Digital Astronomical Planetarium of Castroreale was designed in such a way as to be used to understand more about the Universe and its movements, both in the past and in the future. In the room there are experts who will guide visitors to discover the constellations but also of some typical but particular phenomena, as it certainly can be that of precession of the Equinoxes. Through some special programs, then, the projectors can simulate thealternation of seasons in the constellations but also the eclipse of both the Moon and the Sun and finally the perpetual motion of the planets and of the Sun itself. It is also possible to have a complete view of the sky, as it could be admired from the Poles or from the Equator.
What to see around the Digital Astronomical Planetarium of Castroreale
A tour of discovery castroreale can only start from its historic center, paved with a stone pavement which is called in the local dialect Jacatu and which reproduces a sound that seems to be a real harmony at each step. Walking through the narrow alleys you will come across the Duomo of Castroreale which is entitled to Santa Maria Assunta. It is a pure Mannerist style building, with both classical and Baroque decorations and a beautiful marble portal. Beside the Duomo, there is the viewpoint in Piazza delle Aquile, a very panoramic point from which you can admire the whole valley below. Another absolutely characteristic element is the Tower of Frederick II which is actually part of what everyone knows as the Castroreale Castle, a fortification wanted by Federica D'Aragona and built in 1324 to be able to control the movements of the enemies in the gulf. Finally, the Candlemas Church is a building that dates back to the fourteenth century, thought to be the palace chapel, so much so that inside there is an inlaid wooden tribune decorated with pure gold, intended to seat the royal family.
What to do in Castroreale
Among the most particular festivities that take place in the municipality of Castroreale, certainly there is the patronal feast which is that of new Year's Eve. During the celebration, the statue of the saint is carried in triumph in a solemn procession, so that the participants can give thanks for the goodwill received. Also from a gastronomic point of view, the territory of castroreale it is rich in traditions and specialties, so much so that there are two festivals scheduled during the year that attract a large number of visitors. The first is the Wild boar and pig festival, which involves the creation of many dishes based on these two types of meat while the second is the Castriciano biscuit festival, another typical specialty that is produced only in this corner of Sicily.
How to get to Castroreale
Those who want to reach Castroreale to visit the Digital Astronomical Planetarium he will be able to by car starting from Messina and traveling along the A20 and then the E90, the same road that those who leave from Palermo and Trapani can follow.
For those who, on the other hand, move from Catania, the most suitable road is the A18 while those who leave from Syracuse will have to follow the E45.
Finally, from Enna the reference road is the A19 and then the E932 to your destination.
Castroreale has its own railway station, which it shares with the town of Barcelona, and is located on the Palermo-Messina section. Finally, it is always possible to reach the village with the bus numbers made available by the local company AST.
