Castle of Carini – La Grua-Talamanca

Il Carini Castle, officially known as Carini's Crane Talamanca, was originally a stronghold that had the purpose of spotting the arrival of any invaders, like other strategically located Sicilian fortresses. Today it is interesting to visit this Castle to admire its architectural sides.

History of the Castle of Carini

Although historically there are no precise references, it is known that the Castle was built during the Arab era in Sicily but history speaks of this fortress within the Norman period towards the XNUMXth-XNUMXth century and exactly under the aegis of the feudal lord Rodolfo Bonello.
It was the King of Sicily, Martin I who passed the property to the Abbot family and subsequently to the Grua family buys the property of the fortress together with all the barony of Carini.
The marriage between the daughter of Umberto La Grua and Gilberto Talamanca inaugurated the La Grua-Talamanca dynasty from which the name of the Castle of Carini still derives. Despite the owner family's flight to France, the castle remained in their possession even if, after the end of feudalism at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the building fell into progressive abandonment which caused its deterioration.
In the mid-seventies of the last century, after the collapse of the west wing of the fortress, the heirs gave the property to the Municipality of Carini which took care of carrying out the fundamental restoration works.

What the Castle of Carini is known for is given by the story of Laura Lanza di Trabia, daughter of Cesare and known as the Baroness of Carini who was given in marriage to the fourteen-year-old Vincenzo La Grua Talamanca, in a loveless marriage that gave rise to the betrayal of the baroness with a family friend, Ludovico Vernagallo. The story was known by the bride's father who, offended by her unfaithful behavior, mercilessly killed her, starting a so-called honor killing.

Architecture of the La Grua-Talamanca Castle of Carini

The Castle of Carini is characterized by mighty walls dating back to the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries in pure medieval style. You can also notice the singular elements in Arab-Norman style present on the second entrance where you can see a pointed arch and the coat of arms of the Abate family.
Some portals are dominated by coats of arms in the shape of a shield where a crane is represented, an obvious reference to the La Grua family. On the portal on the upper floor it is possible to see the Lanza coat of arms represented by two rampant lions.

The style of the Castello di Carini is typically medieval and therefore austere and sober while the interior is decidedly much more lively thanks to the colors that characterize it. The building is still being renovated but many areas that have already been restored can be visited such as the frescoed rooms where the stylistic difference of the paintings cannot be overlooked, testifying to the many works that have been done over the centuries. The frescoes are very beautiful due to the soft pastel colors which are ideal for receiving the light coming from outside and filtering through the large windows.

On the ground floor it is possible to notice a room with a cross vault which was once an external wall; as well as another room without flooring, it exhibits the foundations of all previously built structures.

Full of atmospheres it turns out to be the large living room divided by two pointed arches with a column in the centre. Also worth seeing Billiemi stone sink which is located in the eastern part of the Castle, the Chapel embellished with a trompe-l'oeil and a statue of the Madonna of Trapani.
Notable is also the noble chapel which houses a seventeenth-century tabernacle with Corinthian-style columns.

On the upper floor there is a marble portal which was the entrance to the fifteenth-century area of ​​the Castle of Carini where there is the inscription Et nova sint omnia probably built when the building was transformed from a barracks into a noble residence.
Do not miss the beautiful wooden ceiling that characterizes the Ballroom. It is a coffered ceiling with stalactites decorated with allegorical captions and noble coats of arms. Inside the large hall there is a fireplace embellished with the La Grua coat of arms.
Other environments present are also interesting and we suggest you visit them.

What you can do around the Castle of Carini

Continuing the visits it is suggested to go to catacombs early Christian of 500 AD of Villagrazia di Carini and Carburangeli caves, to those gods Point them and to see also the ancient Baglio dei Pescatori tonnara, which has now become a small port.

For the little ones it is attractive to visit the neighbor Biopark of Sicily which is also the largest zoological garden in the South where a prehistoric area has been reconstructed with life-size reproductions of predators of the past, the dinosaurs.
Weather permitting, it is advisable to implement the visits by going to Ciachian Tower and Muzza tower.

How it is possible to get to the La Grua-Talamanca di Carini Castle

By car:, from Palermo take the A29 motorway, Palermo-Mazara del Vallo, exit Carini and Villagrazia di Carini.

© Image by Donut66, CC BY-SA 4.0 - Carinicastello.JPG:VincenzoC at it.wikipediaderivative work: Memorato, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons