Norman Castle of Motta Sant'Anastasia

Il Castle of Motta Sant'Anastasia it rises in the Sicilian province of Catania and is the smallest dungeon of the three located along the Simeto Valley. It contains an almost thousand-year history, with the first signs dating back to the late Middle Ages.

Here's what to know about a building with strong architectural and cultural significance.

Brief history of the Norman Castle of Motta Sant'Anastasia

The Castle of Motta Sant'Anastasia was built by the count Roger the Norman starting from 1070 and required four years of work. Over the centuries, several prominent families settled inside the castle and assumed ownership of it. The building was called this way towards the second half of the twelfth century, while the addition of the term Motta would only become effective from the early stages of the fourteenth century.

The importance of the castle remained intact even in the following period. For example, in 1359, it was the seat of the peace stipulated between the count of Aidone, Henry the Red, and Artale Aragon. After a period of control by the state property, the de Perellos family came into possession of the fortress. During the sixteenth century, it was bought by Aliosio Sanchez and, subsequently, by the Count of Adrano Antonio Moncada.

In the 1900, the municipality of Motta Sant'Anastasia he permanently purchased his iconic castle. Also important was the birth of Local Historical Museum, dated May 15, 2010 and with a Hall of Weapons and a large screen.

The general architecture of the Motta Sant'Anastasia Castle

The Norman Castle of Motta Sant'Anastasia has a height of approximately 20 meters and is based on a rocky lava stone. The walls are made of lava stone and the corners are made of squared ashlars. The structure consists of three floors, divided between them by special wooden floors. However, the latter were rebuilt relatively recently, as they have suffered heavy wear and tear over the centuries.

When you enter the ground floor, you enter a small entrance door with rectangular-shaped windows on the sides. The stairs are very thin and the first floor includes an ogive roof located on various brackets and a median arch. The terrace contains nine battlements, seven of which are located on the wider sides and two on the shorter ones. The ruins of an ancient city wall are still visible around the castle.

What to do in Motta Sant'Anastasia and the surrounding areas

As previously mentioned, the Castle of Motta Sant'Anastasia features within it the aforementioned Historical Museum, capable of recounting numerous local suggestions. The locality has 12 thousand inhabitants and showcases various prominent attractions. From the Mother Church to the Neck cliff, from Medieval village to the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, the possibilities are numerous. Just move a little to reach the nearby towns of Camporotondo Etneo, Belpasso and obviously the famous Catania.

How to get to Motta Sant'Anastasia

To discover the Norman Castle of Motta Sant'Anastasia, just exit the A19 at the junction of the same name or that of Catania center and travel the last 6-7 kilometres.

By train, the Catania Centrale and Catania Europa stations are 11 kilometers from the city centre.

© Image by Rabe!, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons