Solomon's Castle in Mazarin

History of Solomon's Castle in Mazarin

Today of what was in the Middle Ages, the Castle of Garsiliato or Grassuliato, only the ruins remain.

For locals, it is simply the Castiddazzu, but once upon a truly terrible castle located in the Salomone district, not far from the town of Mazzarino.

The castle was built on top of a hill - as was customary to dominate the area from above - at 418 meters above sea level, to have a view that embraced the entire valley of the Gela river.

Even today, to get there, you have to take an arduous access path that crosses an area of ​​archaeological interest that is still to be discovered.

From what was hypothesized by the experts, the castle must have had mighty crenellated walls and, according to the architectural style of the time, pointed arch windows and doors. It is imagined that there were also large halls, cisterns as a warehouse and an underground passage that led to the valley below.

With the construction of the agglomeration of Mazarin, the castle lost its strategic role. From historical documents dating back to the end of the eleventh century it is clear that on a list of donations in favor of the Church of S. Maria della Valle di Giosafat, there was the name of Salomon de Garsiliat – often erroneously written Grassuliato, who had the merit of restoring the ancient village and having the castle restored.

The territory, vast and rich in resources, was divided into nine fiefdoms and the castle, thanks to its strategic position, was particularly coveted. Bartholomew of Grassuliato, the lord of the fiefdom, challenged the authority of King William by channeling other local nobles as well, so as to cause a long and bloody conflict. Who lost out, was the castle that was destroyed and left in a state of abandonment.

It was below Frederick II of Swabia that the feud of Grassuliato resumed its ancient splendor becoming a county. In later eras starting from the War of the Vespers, the county of Grassuliato was involved in various conflicts, causing ups and downs until, in recognition of the services rendered to the Aragonese, the territory was given to Niccolò Branciforte, lord of Mazarin and to all his descendants who, starting from the beginning of the XNUMXth century, they were called Counts of Mazarin and Garsiliato.

While continuing to live in Mazarin rather than in the capital of the Kingdom, the Counts of Mazarin never considered the possibility of living in the castle which began to fall into ruin.
Even the people who lived around the manor began to move to Mazarin mainly due to the fact that the town was less isolated and it was then that stories and legends began to circulate about Castiddazzu whose abandonment dates back to the XNUMXth century.

The tourist who intends to visit the Castle of Salamone is faced with non-unitary remains but recognizable in three groups of ruins that can offer only a partial idea of ​​what the manor must have been.

A group is made up of its uncovered environments. A second remnant of ruins can be traced back to an extensive rectangular-shaped room characterized by three square bays, which is also more interesting than the third remnant of ruins where on one of the still existing walls, three splayed loopholes can be seen.

Interesting things to see and do around the Castle of Salamone

Mazarin, a true gem of Sicilian Baroque belonging to the territory of Caltanissetta, is an interesting destination to visit due to the beauty of the churches and noble palaces present.

The town is to be considered an art center that offers the tourist many stimuli to explore it in depth starting from a castle called U Cannuni due to a cylindrical tower that recalls a cannon aimed at the sky. This castle has a Roman-Byzantine origin even if, over time, it has seen various restorations and renovations.

Besides U Cannuni, it is suggested to visit the Church of Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo and the Convent of the Carmelite Fathers which arise right on the central square of Mazarin.

Speaking of religious buildings, it is not to be missed Church of Sant'Ignazio with attached the Jesuit College. Inside the church there is an organ without pipes placed on an eighteenth-century choir loft.

You can also admire the church of the Capuchin Fathers, Church of Santa Maria della Neve and the church of Madonna del Mazzaro, who is the patron saint of the city who is celebrated in the month of September.

Also worth visiting is one of the buildings of great architectural value, Palazzo Alberti, perhaps choosing to do the tourist route called "The Via dei Fasti and Prestige".

How to reach Solomon's Castle

Almost in the center of Sicily, these are the routes to take by car starting from Palermo or Catania. Alternatively, there are scheduled buses that run to and from Mazzarino.

Palermo is 152 kilometers from Mazzarino and the suggested route is to take the Palermo – Catania motorway (A19) with the Caltanissetta exit and then take the SS640 to the SS626 then the SS560 and the SS191. From Mazzarino, follow the road signs.

Catania is 102 kilometers from Mazzarino and the suggested route is to take the SS192 up to the SS417, continue on the SS124, SS117bis and the SP13. From Mazzarino, follow the road signs.