The Castle of Caccamo: that ephemeral gap between history and legends.
21 April 2022 - Categorie: Travel Tips, The places of the heart, Cultural tourism Tags:
Albert Einstein said: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." The Castle of Caccamo does more than justice to these words, it is the exemplification par excellence. Majestic work of art, the Castle is located in the province of Palermo in the town of the same name from which it takes its name, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in north-western Sicily both nationally and internationally.
The first certain data dates back to 1160 and it is precisely at this moment that the indissoluble link between history and mystery is consecrated. The noble, and one of its first owners, Matteo Bonello was the bitter enemy of King Gugliemo I known as "Il Malo" (lit. The Bad) and used the castle together with his allies as a refuge after the failure of the "conspiracy of the barons". In fact, on the night of 11 November 1160, Bonello and his followers set a trap for the King's prime minister, killing him, and holding Guglielmo I hostage. The people freed the sovereign and Bonello had to take refuge to escape the King's wrath. a game of cunning and deception, Bonello was invited in the presence of Guglielmo I with the demand of forgiveness but was instead imprisoned and tortured, dying of starvation. From that moment, it is said that the ghost of Matteo Bonello wanders through the halls of the Castle and in particular in the hall of conspiracies. During the nights of full moon, the protagonist of another legend keeps Bonello company: a girl, daughter of one of the gentlemen who lived in the castle, fell in love with a soldier but her father forced her to become a nun and ordered his murder; the girl died in the convent of pain shortly after. The young woman could be seen at the stroke of midnight dressed in white and holding a pomegranate: you have to eat it all if you want to keep the girl at bay. Guided tour + organic snack: there are no more ghosts than they used to be!
The first certain data dates back to 1160 and it is precisely at this moment that the indissoluble link between history and mystery is consecrated. The noble, and one of its first owners, Matteo Bonello was the bitter enemy of King Gugliemo I known as "Il Malo" (lit. The Bad) and used the castle together with his allies as a refuge after the failure of the "conspiracy of the barons". In fact, on the night of 11 November 1160, Bonello and his followers set a trap for the King's prime minister, killing him, and holding Guglielmo I hostage. The people freed the sovereign and Bonello had to take refuge to escape the King's wrath. a game of cunning and deception, Bonello was invited in the presence of Guglielmo I with the demand of forgiveness but was instead imprisoned and tortured, dying of starvation. From that moment, it is said that the ghost of Matteo Bonello wanders through the halls of the Castle and in particular in the hall of conspiracies. During the nights of full moon, the protagonist of another legend keeps Bonello company: a girl, daughter of one of the gentlemen who lived in the castle, fell in love with a soldier but her father forced her to become a nun and ordered his murder; the girl died in the convent of pain shortly after. The young woman could be seen at the stroke of midnight dressed in white and holding a pomegranate: you have to eat it all if you want to keep the girl at bay. Guided tour + organic snack: there are no more ghosts than they used to be!
Going back to historical facts, after Matteo Bonello, the Castle became the property of the noble Chiaramonte family who enlarged and fortified it between 1302 and 1392 so that it could thus resist the attacks of the Aragonese. Subsequently, Giacomo De Prades built some towers, stables, a hall for audiences and one for arms. In 1400, Giovanni Alfonso Henriquez, Viceroy of Sicily, gave Caccamo his emblem: a horse's head with the addition of three legs, the Triscele. Almost everything withstood the earthquake of 1923.
Sicily is full of villages among the most beautiful of the Italian tourism scene and one of these is certainly Caccamo with its "legendary" Castle that overlooks the village majestically and quietly, by the river, and giving you a window on the Sicilian world between present and past that you would never want to close: "art whashes from the sould the dust of everyday life" (Pablo Picasso).
Sicily is full of villages among the most beautiful of the Italian tourism scene and one of these is certainly Caccamo with its "legendary" Castle that overlooks the village majestically and quietly, by the river, and giving you a window on the Sicilian world between present and past that you would never want to close: "art whashes from the sould the dust of everyday life" (Pablo Picasso).
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Baia Smeraldo: Are you looking for a delightful home, with a private swimming pool, direct and private access to the sea, in an area that can give you peace and tranquillity away from the chaos of the metropolis? Do not go further because Baia Smeraldo is the perfect solution for your holidays in Sicily. Located 6 km from Cefalù, a tourist-seaside village among the most coveted of tourism at 360 °, this residence will give you moments of absolute quiet while immersed in its luxuriant garden, full of Mediterranean plants, or while you will let yourself be inebriated by the panorama on the crystalline sea of Sicily.
Acquamarina: Wonderful villa with private swimming pool, immersed in a 3000 square metre garden and located in one of the most sought-after places of tourism in Sicily: Mondello. Ideal starting point for exploring the heart of north-western Sicily from Scopello to San Vito Lo Capo, from Caccamo to Monreale, from Marsala to Cefalù, this exquisite residence is ready to give you an adventure holiday in Sicily for just 700 metres from the beach, but also relaxation in its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the greenery of Sicilian nature.
Solemar: Superlative residence with private infinity pool, on the sea and located in Terrasini in the wonderful province of Palermo, the capital of splendid Sicily and the main destination of national and international tourism. Solemar is ready to give you a holiday full of emotions and relaxation: the undisputed protagonist is the breathtaking and uninterrupted view of the wonderful Gulf of Castellammare that you can observe from any point of the house. Its location is not far behind being almost halfway between the province of Palermo and that of Trapani, keepers of the wonders of north-western Sicily.