Castle of Santa Caterina in Favignana
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In 'Egadi archipelago, among the incredible wonders of the sea that meets the land, Favignana is the largest of the islands overlooking the coast of north-western Sicily, between Trapani and Marsala. On the islet, which is part of the province of Trapani, the Favignana Castle it is one of the most fascinating sites, even if it is not the only trace that history has left on Favignana…
The history of the Castle of Santa Caterina in Favignana
La history of the Castle of Favignana begins in the eleventh century, with the arrival of the Normans: the "men of the North" transformed what had been an old Saracen watchtower from the XNUMXth century into a fortress overlooking the Western Sicily. A few centuries later, in the fifteenth century, the fort was enlarged by Andrea Riccio, Baron of Favignana. Later the lonely manor on top of Mount Catherine it was used as a prison until, in 1860, the Castle of Favignana was occupied during the revolts and transformed into a military camp.
Today the Castle, although in a state of abandonment, exerts a great charm and magnetic attraction on visitors, perhaps by virtue of its history, perhaps by virtue of its position…
The architecture of the Castle of Santa Caterina and what to admire inside
Placed on St Catherine's Mountain and also visible from Erice and Trapani, the fort has a rectangular plan and we can still see how the ground floor is embedded in the rock. The whole structure is mainly made up of limestone, while a defensive moat is present all around the walls.
Mighty, fortified and almost completely armored on the lower floors, the castle has small openings on the upper floors and is completely covered by a brick curtain. The upper floors can be reached via the external stairways, which also lead to the terraces of the Castle, located on top of the ramparts and characterized by lookout posts, some of which still exist.
What you can do in the Castle of Santa Caterina in Favignana and in the surrounding area
Il Castle of Santa Caterina it is a solitary place, but rich in history and charm and can still be visited today, even if only partially, from the outside: do not miss the opportunity to admire this ancient up close Norman manor, if you spend a few days of vacation in the magnificent Favignana. Here there are many things to see, starting with the beauties of nature. The sea with its hypnotic colors invites you to reach the beaches of Cala Rossa, Cala del Bue Marino, Cala Azzurra and Praia di Favignana; if you manage to give up the wonders of the beach for a while, you will also be rewarded by the wonders of the village.
La Church of the Immaculate Conception it houses beautiful and ancient works of sacred art, from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, Villa Florio it is an original construction, built in the XNUMXth century Neo-Gothic style and today seat of the tourist information point of Favignana; to find out how people lived on the islet until not long ago, book a guided tour of the former Tonnara of Favignana, where you will be accompanied by former factory workers.
Other attractions of Favignana are the St Catherine's Mountain, perfect destination for those who love long walks in nature, the tuff quarries, Cala Graziosa , Cove of Grotta Perciata.
On the island there are restaurants where you can enjoy fresh fish and of course there is no shortage of accommodation facilities to welcome you, to pamper you during your stay in Favignana. If you also want to visit the other islands of the Archipelago, you can reach theLevanzo island, from which it is also possible to land on theMarettimo island. On the island of Levanzo you will find wonders such as Cala Faraglione, with rocks and vegetation overlooking the sea, while on the island of Marettimo there is the spectacular Pipe Cave, but we leave you the pleasure of discovering all the other wonders of these islets!
Recommended activities for a tour in Favignana and its surroundings
How is it possible to get to the Castle of Santa Caterina
THEisland of Favignana it is part of the Egadi Archipelago, in the province of Trapani. The island can only be reached by sea, by hydrofoil o ferry, starting from the port of Trapani or from Marsala. On the island, you can move around with the tourist train, with the buses, but also with your car or bicycle. To reach the Castle of Favignana, take public transport along the road that reaches about halfway up the hill, then continue on foot.
© Image by Civa61, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
