Calatabiano Castle

The Castle of Calatabiano is located on a hill overlooking the valley of the same name. The ancient building is surrounded by what were once the fortification walls and can be reached via an uphill walk along a cobbled stone road that cuts through a rich vegetation of almond trees, prickly pears and of course olive trees.

Here is everything you need to know and see in the beautiful castle!

The history of the place of Calatabiano Castle

From some documents of the time it appears that in remote times the castle was called Kaalat-bian, an Arabic name which means "Biano castle", probably from the name of the owner who had it built and who administered it, even if on the same territory there already existed small fortifications of Greek origin dated around XNUMXth-XNUMXrd century B.C Subsequently, in the Norman era, the castle was remodeled, as can still be seen today from some minor parts of the upper floor that are still evident.

After a few centuries, the castle passed into the hands of Pagano family and Gualtiero Parisi, counts of the province of Avellino and subsequently under the dominion of the Swabians and Aragonese, when all of southern Italy became part of their territories.

However, the period of greatest splendor of the Calatabiano Castle was experienced with the arrival of the Cruyllas and the Palagonia, which not only improve the defensive aspect of the fortress, but enrich it with valuable architectural works and make it a military center and also a cultural circle.

Unfortunately, with the serious earthquake that in 1693 affects the entire region, the castle was abandoned because it was heavily damaged and, little by little, fell into total ruin, until the recent renovation, dated 2009, by the architect Daniele Raneri who brought the structure back to its original splendour.

The architecture and any works of art present

The architectural style of the castle is very eclectic, also due to the numerous dominations in which it was involved.

Of great interest is certainly the entrance portal which is made with a pointed arch and is supported by some corbels. The peculiarity of this portal, as well as many other details within the structure, is that of being built with lava stone and sandstone, all materials rigorously obtained from the surrounding area.

The portal leads to an internal courtyard which has a diameter of about 8 meters and is characterized by the presence of two cisterns which have large external slits.

Also of great value is one of the internal halls, the one dedicated to representation parties, called Cruyllas salon: the name derives from the presence of a white stone arch coming from Taormina which divides it in two and on top of which there is the Cruyllas family coat of arms. The same coat of arms is also present in that of the current municipality of
Calatabian.

What is possible to do in the surroundings of Calatabiano

A visit to the Castle of Calatabiano is an excellent opportunity to visit its surroundings which are equally beautiful and full of charm, history and culture.

First of all, the castle overlooks the valley of Al qantar, an Arabic name that it has become over the millennia Alcantara Valley, where you can visit the Gole of the same name, a canyon of natural origin that the Alcantara river has carved out over 3000 years of history.

Calatabiano also has a very charming old town, which houses small treasures that are certainly not to be missed, such as the church dedicated to Maria Santissima Annunziata, built in 1740, inside which you can admire a wooden crucifix made in 1502 by the sculptor Salvo D'Antonio, or the wooden pulpit which is dated 1791.

Finally, the unmissable frescoes that decorate the entire interior show scenes from the life of Jesus and were made at the end of the 800th century by the artists Ganguzza and Freri. For those who like to travel even further afield, there is the possibility of visiting Taormina and Giardini di Naxos which are located a short distance away.

Recommended activities for a tour of the Alcantara Gorges

How can you get to your destination

There are several ways to get to Calatabiano Castle and dedicate yourself to discovering these enchanting places. First of all, you can reach the destination with your own car, driving along the A18 motorway and taking the exit for Fiumefreddo.

From there, then, it is possible to travel along any of the state roads that lead to Calatabiano. We remind you that to reach the top of the castle from the base of the hill on which it stands, it is necessary to walk uphill.

For those who prefer the train, however, the reference station for regional trips is Calatabiano and from there you can get to the vicinity of the fortress by taxi or bus. Finally, the closest airport is Fontanarossa which is located in Catania.