Cammarata Castle

One of the most significant monuments of Cammarata, in the province of Agrigento, is his castle, of which there is no certain information, which further fuels the legends born around him. For all those who don't want to miss this wonder, here's what you need to know about the Cammarata castle.

History of the Cammarata castle

The history of the Cammarata castle is very uncertain because there are no ancient documents that without a shadow of a doubt date its construction or tell the story of who wanted it to be built.
The first time you can read about castellum Cameratae in official correspondence it is around 1100, so it is clear that its original construction was prior to this date. According to the scholars Barone and Giarratana, therefore, its construction should have preceded that of the birth of the village, given that the agglomerations of houses usually developed around a castle which had the function of protection.
from stemma which is clearly visible on one of the main doors, then, we obtain the data that starting from 1302 the castle and all the related fiefdom passed under the dominion of the Palizzi family who had received it from Frederick II to thank them for their loyalty to his kingdom.
The castle then passed from noble family to noble family until 1838 when, once feudalism was abolished, the structure first passed into the hands of the Municipality, which sold it to Vincenzo Collari who in turn handed it over to Don Giuseppe Longo who instead donated it to the nuns who organized an orphanage inside.

Architecture and any works of art present in the Cammarata castle

Not the entire structure remains of the castle and even the surviving part has undergone damage over the centuries profound revisitation, so it is difficult to understand exactly what its original appearance was.
From what can be admired today and from the studies conducted by experts, however, it is clear that the castle was originally equipped with a rectangular plan, with one side longer than the other two. At the four corners, then, there were the same number sighting towers, all with a circular plan.
If the original nucleus of the castle was very simple, over time other structures had arisen within the walls, which served for the self-sufficiency of the castle, especially in periods of siege. Even today you can see them prisons in the basement but also the parts used for stalls and warehouses, inside which the supplies were stored. Today the castle can be visited and in some of its areas it hosts permanent art exhibitions.

What is possible to do in the surroundings or inside the Cammarata castle

Those who decide to reach the village of Cammarata to visit its famous castle will also be able to take advantage of the opportunity to discover many other extremely suggestive corners, which make this area unique. For example, it deserves an in-depth visit Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari which was built in 1640 but on a pre-existing structure dating back to 1100.
Inside, then, a beautiful and imposing building catches your attention pipe organ which is believed to be among the oldest in all of Sicily. Then there is the Church of the Annunziata which dates back to the XNUMXth century and houses numerous frescoes from the same period.
For nature lovers, however, a walk is recommended Monte Cammmarata oriented nature reserve which includes a very vast and diverse territory within it, made up of hills and woods but also flatter areas where numerous animal species can be admired in their natural habitat.

How is it possible to get to Cammarata

The easiest way to get to Cammarata is to use your own car and take the SS189 which leads directly to the village, from which you can easily reach the castle on foot.
Alternatively, it is also possible to reach the town by train, since it is served by a regional connection departing from Agrigento.
Finally, for those who prefer to travel by bus, it is possible to reach Cammarata through the local lines made available by the public company ATS.