Castello di Lombardia
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The Castello di Lombardia is a castle in Enna in Sicily .
history
The Castello di Lombardia was one of the largest castles in Sicily. Historians attribute the construction of the castle to Friedrich II ; However, this is not certain. The fort was built on the ruins of an Arab fortress. The name comes from Roger I , who commanded Lombard mercenary troops here .
The fort
The fort is located on the outskirts of Enna at an altitude of about 980 meters above sea level . It's on a rock; only the western side is accessible. Attackers had to attack uncovered from the west. In 1232 Frederick II set up a base here to suppress rebels.
The castle covers an area of 27,000 m² and is one of the largest in Europe. Six of the original 20 towers are still standing. The inner courtyards have all been preserved; the largest courtyard is used as an open-air theater in summer. From the platform of the Torre Pisana, the highest tower, one has a view of the Etnam massif in the east, the Monti Nebrodi and Monti Madonie in the north, of the Lago di Pergusa and on clear days of the Mediterranean in the south.
In the 14th century, powerful Sicilian families, including the Alagona and Chiaramonte , tried to take possession of this strategically important point.
Demeter rocks
At the foot of the castle in a north-easterly direction is the Demeter rock ( Rocca di Cerere ). In ancient Greece, the sanctuary of Demeter, the goddess of fertility, was located on this rock .
literature
- Brigit Carnabuci: Sicily. Greek temples, Roman villas, Norman cathedrals and baroque cities in the center of the Mediterranean (= DuMont art travel guide ). 6th, updated edition. DuMont Reiseverlag, Ostfildern 2011, ISBN 978-3-7701-4385-6 .
- Sicilia, Isola in un Mare di Luce. The castles of Frederick II in Sicily . Assessoroto del Turismo, Palermo.
Web links
Coordinates: 37 ° 34 ′ 2 ″ N , 14 ° 17 ′ 17 ″ E