Cerami Castle

Things to know about Cerami Castle

For those who find themselves near Cerami, a place that absolutely must not be missed is that of the Cerami Castle which dominates the entire valley from the top of a cliff. Nebrodi Park.
Unfortunately, the structure today is poorly preserved and for years it has been abandoned to neglect and decay, however what can still be admired repays any effort. Here, then, is how to organize a visit to this beautiful place and what to see in its surroundings.

History of Cerami Castle

The history of this castle is quite uncertain and scholars are very conflicted in dating its foundation with certainty. According to some, the first installation dates back to the XNUMXth century BC when a first nucleus was dug inside the limestone rock in order to find shelter not only from animals but also from neighboring populations.
Certainly in Roman times the original construction was incorporated into a more recent one with the aim of creating a castrum, i.e. a fortified structure from which possible enemy attacks could be spotted, given that the castle is located on a hill at a height of approximately 1100 meters above sea level.

According to some historical findings, in 1063 the castle was al center of the defense implemented by the Normans to defeat the advance of the Saracens and precisely its presence in such a strategic position helped to interrupt the enemy siege.

Over time, then, the castle passed from hand to hand and the family of Arisgotto of Pozzuoli and that of Francesco Ventimiglia, The famous Count of Geraci. It was, however, with i Russian/Red princes that the castle experienced its level of maximum splendor, transforming into a noble residence, with beautiful halls and frescoed ceilings, such as the chapel dedicated to San Giorgio with very rich decorations on walls and ceilings.

Architecture and works of art present in the Cerami Castle

Unfortunately, today only a few ruins remain of the beautiful Cerami Castle. The structure has undergone a heavy bombing during WWII which seriously damaged a part of the castle and above all made it unusable.
In the following years, then, the castle was abandoned to itself and experienced the depredation of all those materials that could be reused for other constructions, such as arches, portals and more generally stones of different sizes.

Only recently has the Superintendency moved to declare the remains of the Cerami Castle a cultural asset of essential importance, protecting it with territorial restrictions both for its historical value and for the beauty of the surrounding area.
A recovery project is also being examined but at the moment it is only possible to admire the remains from afar and enjoy the wonderful panorama that can be enjoyed from the top of the hill on which the castle is located.

What you can do in the Cerami Castle and in the surrounding area

Even if the Cerami Castle cannot be visited inside, it is still worth a trip to the town because in addition to admiring its remains it is still possible to discover a very rich territory, not only from a historical and cultural point of view but also from a landscape point of view.
The city center, for example, is a small jewel, a medieval village where some very valuable structures can be visited, such as the church of Sant'Antonio Abate which is an example of really well preserved Romanesque architecture.

The main church, however, is that Mother which is there Cerami Cathedral, also known by the name of Sant'Ambrogio, whose construction dates back to 1520 and which houses some works by Philip Quattrocchi dating back to 1600. Nature lovers will appreciate a trip inside the Nebrodi Park to admire various species of flora and fauna in their natural habitat which are protected from human interference here, including griffins and eagles real.

Finally, in the immediate vicinity of Cerami you can admire the Sartori lake with its dam, the windmills found in the Troina area, the sanctuary of San Giacomo Apostolo Maggiore in Capizzi, with its marvelous frescoes from the 1800s and the internal structures in wrought iron.

How to get to Cerami

The locality of Cerami can be easily reached both from Palermo and Catania by car. The reference motorway is the A19 with the Dittaino exit for those coming from Palermo or Catania and with the Santo Stefano di Camastra exit for those coming from Enna. To get to your destination, it is then necessary to take the state road 117 or 120 which leads to the city center. From here you can then go along the internal roads following the signs up to the castle.

Arriving by train is less easy as Cerami does not have its own train station and you must refer to the closest one which is in Sant'Agata di Militello about 30 km away. From here it is possible to continue with the local public transport, consulting the bus timetables. A bus service to reach Cerami is also provided from the main population centers of the island, in particular Enna, Palermo and Catania.

© Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons