CASTELLO URSINO

This impressive and massive castle was built between 1239 and 1250 on the initiative of Frederick II, also known as Federico di Svevia (Frederick of Swabia). It was included in an extensive defensive programme of the king in 1229, on his return from the Crusades. The innovative design of the internal space of these castles is influenced by Cistercian monastic architecture.

It consists of a square inner courtyard, surrounded by a moat, with four angular keeps and four semi-cylindrical turrets in the middle of each side (only two remain). Before the volcanic eruption of 1669, the castle stood on a steep hill above the harbour. However, when the basin was filled in, the lava flow pushed the castle away from the sea and the castle could no longer be used for military purposes. Successively garrison, prison and then barracks, it now houses the Municipal Museum. On the ground floor there is a collection of beautiful Greco-Roman statues, including that of Prince Biscari, a bronze statuette of Marcus Aurelius and a superb mosaic as well as Roman bas-reliefs. On the first level, the pinacoteca presents a small collection of Italian and Sicilian paintings from the 16th to the 19th century.

Going up Via Auteri, you reach Piazza Mazzini, with Piazza San Francesco just above it. On the latter was the southern part of the Greek acropolis. Today it is home to the Monastery of San Francesco with its imposing Baroque façade. Dating from the 18th century, it was built by Vaccarini and now houses the Institute of Fine Arts.