Castle of Cefalà Diana

The history of Castle of Cefalà Diana retraces that of the inhabitants of the area who protect the grain route and also the coast from the incursions of Arab pirates. The structure today is a ruin but it is still possible to experience the magic of one medieval fortification with environments suitable for accommodating soldiers, stables and water cisterns.

The history of Cefalà Diana Castle

The Cefalà Diana Castle stands on a cliff overlooking the valley where, in medieval times, the Milicia river flowed. The fortification was built outside the town of the same name which is located further south where the terrain is less steep and urbanization is simpler.

The Castle was built to monitor the Magna via Panormi, a road connecting Agrigento to Palermo which in Norman times was used for transportation and trade of grain.
The castellum has very ancient origins, in fact the original structure can be attributed to the Greeks, but the current construction dates back to between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. The structure has a strategic function therefore over the centuries it was intended only for the military and did not host the lords of the town who simply stayed there for a few days in case of need.
One of the best known owners is Baron Federico Chiaramonte of whom there is trace in some official documents from 1525. The ius edificandi et populandi of the fiefdom, however, was granted to Duke Nicolò Diana in 1684 who was appointed lord of the territory by Charles II, king of Spain and Sicily. In that year, the town also took on the family surname alongside the ancient name Cefalà.

The architecture and works of art present in the Cefalà Diana Castle

The Cefalà Diana Castle is built on a rock and the surrounding walls reproduce the natural configuration of the land. The wall has different depths to effectively protect the points most exposed to the enemy. The east and north sides of the fortification overlook the valley and are 80cm thick, while the west side is easy to access and therefore has a thickness of approximately 1m and 40cm.

The entrance to the fortification is in a tower located to the south with two doors, but only one of which is still intact. The original closure has been lost, so it is not possible to see the doors and the wooden bar embedded in the wall that protected the entrance to the Castle.
Inside there is a courtyard divided into two squares, one of which is triangular in shape where there are latrines for the soldiers, while the other, with a square plan, houses the warehouses, stables and a prison in the most protected internal environments . A staircase leads to the accommodation for the soldiers and servants and next to it is the kitchen with an oven. At the highest point of the rock there is a rectangular main tower, 20m high and divided into 4 levels.
The ground floor, used as a warehouse, has a trap door that leads to a basement with a cistern and a wooden staircase allows you to reach the first floor where the rooms are illuminated by windows. The second floor is not recognizable and housed the bedrooms with 2 fireplaces, while the highest part consists of a terrace overlooking the valley to spot enemies in advance. Inside the Castle there are some cisterns that collect the rainwater essential for the survival of the inhabitants of the fortification.

What to do at Cefalà Diana Castle and the surrounding area

The history of the Cefalà Diana Castle fascinates many visitors but the town is also home to Church of San Francesco di Paola in Piazza Umberto I which dates back to the XNUMXth century and is appreciated for several ancient paintings. San Francesco di Paolo is also the patron saint of the village and is celebrated with devotion during the patronal feast dedicated to him on April 2nd. The Church is characterized by the "Door of Miracles", the work of Biagio Governali and embellished with 12 bronze panels with the engravings of some episodes from the Old and New Testaments and the most famous miracles of Saint Francis.

Not far from the town there are the Arab baths surrounded by rich vegetation. The XNUMXth century spa establishments gather waters with a temperature between 35,8° and 38° and are built on a Roman-era structure. Inside there are 2 rooms with pointed arches and columns with Corinthian capitals with hot and cold tubs for the well-being of the ancient guests.

How to reach Cefalà Diana Castle

By car:, to reach the Cefalà Diana Castle from Palermo you need to take the E90 for 25km until the Villabate exit on the SS121 towards Agrigento. After 15,4km, take the exit for Bolognetta and continue towards Cefalà Diana where there are signs for the Castle.

© Image by David Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons