Metropolitan City of Catania

Sicilian Castles & Historic Sites

This collection highlights the diverse architectural heritage of the Catania region, from the UNESCO-listed Benedictine Monastery and the Baroque Catania Cathedral to defensive fortifications like the Norman castle of Aci Castello. Explore medieval ruins at Poira and Terravecchia, visit the 16th-century Fortezza del Tocco built to repel pirates, and see fortified manor houses like Castello Xirumi. These sites span from prehistoric monuments and Roman mausoleums to 18th-century palaces, tracing Sicily's history through its stone monuments and defensive strongholds.

Sicilian Castles & Historic Sites — Map

E. Versluis / CC-BY-SA

A

Catania Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Agatha, usually known as the Catania Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Catania, Sicily,…

B

Benedictine Monastery of Catania

Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, this monastery is a must-see! Visit the church, ancient Roman house and the museum of art, too.

Mauro Cacciola / CC BY 2.0

C

Castello Normanno

The Castello Normanno, or alternatively the Castello di Aci, is a castle in Aci Castello in the Metropolitan City of Catania in Sicily,…

D

Fortezza del Tocco

The Fortezza del Tocco is a fort in Acireale, Sicily. It was built in the 16th century to defend the city from attacks by pirates.

E

Castello di Calatabiano

Byzantine and Arab-Norman fortress overlooking the Alcantara Valley. The site includes the Church of San Filippo Siriaco and remains of an ancient settlement, accessible via an inclined elevator.

F

Castello Normanno

The Castello normanno is a castle in Paternò, in the Province of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy.

G

Castello di Poira

Ruins of an 18th-century rural manor house and estate, historically linked to the Baroness of Poira, located in the countryside near Paternò.

H

Castello di Torremuzza

An 18th-century fortified manor house and agricultural estate, representing the rural aristocratic architecture of the Bronte region.

I

Castello di Calatabiano

Strategic fortress featuring Byzantine foundations and later Arab-Norman modifications. It sits on a rocky outcrop offering views of the Ionian coast and Mount Etna.

J

Castello di Terravecchia

Remains of a medieval settlement and defensive structure located on a hill near Grammichele, providing evidence of the area's pre-1693 earthquake urban layout.

K

SvevIan Castle civic museum

A 13th-century Swabian fortress in Randazzo that houses a civic museum featuring a collection of Sicilian puppets and archaeological finds.

L

Santapau Castle

Medieval ruins of a fortress in Licodia Eubea, once the seat of the Santapau family, situated on a high ridge overlooking the town.

M

Castello Arabo-Normanno di Calatabiano

Byzantine-origin fortress situated 222 meters above sea level, featuring well-preserved Arab-Norman architectural elements and the Cruyllas Hall.

N

Castello Xirumi

A 16th-century fortified manor house with a neo-Gothic facade, located within a large citrus estate between Catania and Syracuse.

O

Castello Camemi

A 15th-century fortified residence originally belonging to the Ventimiglia family, showcasing late medieval Sicilian aristocratic architecture near Vizzini.

gnuckx / CC BY 2.0

P

Amenano Fountain

A Carrara marble fountain sculpted by Tito Angelini in 1867, representing the Amenano River as a youth holding a cornucopia, located in Piazza del Duomo.

Q

Monumento preistorico

Ancient stone structure and archaeological remains dating back to Sicily's prehistoric period near Scordia.

R

Terrazza della Regina

Historic terrace and viewpoint located in Belpasso, offering panoramic views of the volcanic landscape surrounding Mount Etna.

S

Mausoleo della Leucatia

A Roman-era funerary monument in northern Catania, originally part of an ancient necropolis and later used as a lookout tower.

T

Cippo Orazio Costorella

A memorial monument in Misterbianco dedicated to Orazio Costorella, a local figure from the Italian resistance movement during World War II.