Between the extraordinary food, sun-soaked beaches, and legendary Mount Etna, plenty of things entice travelers to visit Sicily. What seems to go under the radar for many tourists are the fairy-tale-worthy castles adorning the island, even though there are a staggering 200 of them!
If you’re a history fanatic or an architecture enthusiast, you won’t want to miss these awe-inspiring fortresses. Steeped in centuries of history and showcasing Sicily’s Arab, Norman, and Spanish heritage, each castle is a treasure trove of culture and tradition.
As someone who’s grown up on the island, I’ve checked quite a few Sicilian castles off my list, and these are the ones you cannot miss!
Castello di Donnafugata
Tucked away in the city of Ragusa in southeast Sicily is Castello di Donnafugata, otherwise known as Donnafugata Castle. A neo-gothic and Venetian-style masterpiece with 14th-century origins, this castle is shrouded in mystery, and numerous owners have passed through its walls.
The name Donnafugata translates to fugitive woman, and many believe this title refers to Queen Blanche of Navarre. Legend has it that she sought refuge in this very castle when trying to hide from Count Bernardo Cabrera, who wanted to marry her.
This palatial 122-room castle has enamored me since I was a child, from its grandeur to the stone-walled maze amidst the manicured gardens. Today, Castello di Donnafugata houses a museum displaying lavish costumes and furnishings.
Getting here is super convenient. If you’re arriving by car, there’s a relatively inexpensive car park nearby, and it’s just a 20-minute drive from Ragusa. My personal preference is to take the train. It takes around 20 minutes, costs just €2.50, and is a 600-meter walk from the grounds.
Entry to Castello di Donnafugata will set you back €6 per ticket.
Castello di Milazzo
Castello di Milazzo gets its name from the city it once proudly protected, Milazzo, in northeast Sicily. I personally think this is one of the best castles in Italy; it’s huge, and the fact that it once encircled the entire city is impressive in itself.
Built in 1239 under Frederick II, the King of Sicily at the time, before he set his sights on the castle’s hilltop location, it had previously been the site of a Greek acropolis and Norman citadel. In later years, it served as a prison and only opened up to the public in 2010.
I traveled to Castello di Milazzo for the first time just a couple of years back, and I was initially keen to visit to check out the views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. What I didn’t expect to be so enthralled by was the sheer scope of the citadel, as its crumbling walls and archways cover more than 12,000 square meters.
If you don’t mind a little incline, the best way to get here from central Milazzo is on foot. The walk is actually quite pleasant, especially if you time it for the late afternoon when the heat has gone down. A handful of parking spaces are outside the castle, but securing a spot during busy periods, particularly around sunset, can be risky.
Tickets are reasonably priced and come in at €5 apiece.
Castello di Montalbano
Castello di Milazzo wasn’t the only castle in Sicily constructed under Frederick II’s orders. Less than an hour away from his Milazzo stronghold is Castello di Montalbano, a towering fortification in the commune of Montalbano Elicona.
While many castles are built for defensive purposes close to the seafront, Castello di Montalbano was erected inland to oversee trade between the Peloritani and Nebrodi Mountains. Not your average castle, this place was also a royal palace of Sicily for a time.
Castello di Montalbano was much more expansive than I’d realized, and walking along the hilly laneways and cobbled courtyards was more like strolling through a small town. The exhibits were beautifully presented, with everything from weaponry to armor on display.
This regal castle is situated in the heart of Montalbano Elicona and is easy to reach from most parts of the commune within a 10-minute walk. There’s no direct public transport here, so if you’re visiting from a nearby city like Messina, your best bet is to travel here by car.
Ticket prices can be a little hard to predict but are usually around €3-4 per person.
Castello Manfredonico
Moving onto one of my favorite castles in Sicily, Castello Manfredonico, which also happens to be among the most peculiar. Often referred to by its English name, Mussomeli Castle, this fortress sits upon a cluster of granite rocks along the edge of its namesake town in central Sicily.
Castello Manfredonico has stood tall since the 14th century when it was constructed by the Chiaramonte family. The Chiaramontes were wealthy nobles who eventually passed it on to other high-ranking Sicilians. However, by the 20th century, it had mostly been abandoned.
I’ve always found the setting of this fortress to be remarkable, but it’s also the stone tunnels and opulent resorted rooms inside that fascinated me. More than any other castle in Sicily, Castello Manfredonico made me feel as if I’d set foot into another realm made for affluent medieval nobility.
Whether you choose the 25-minute stroll from Mussomeli town or avail of the parking at the foot of the castle, some uphill walking is required to reach Castello Manfredonico. Trust me, the views over the rugged Sicilian landscapes from the top are more than worth the walk!
A €5 entry fee will give you access to the castle, museum, and grounds.
Castello di Sperlinga
Castello di Sperlinga is a Sicilian castle that’s unlike any others on this list. It’s carved into sandstone rock and overlooks the quaint village of Sperlinga in northern Sicily. Pinpointing the price year construction began is almost impossible, but historians reckon it’s roughly 1,000 years old!
The way in which Sicilians of the past built such a castle remains unclear, but its unorthodox location is what makes Castello di Sperling so intriguing. As Sperlinga was the only village in Sicily not to join the rebellion against French rule in the 13th century, the castle became a refuge for French troops.
If I can give you one piece of advice before visiting, it’s to bring comfortable shoes. The steep staircases, slippery stones, and weathered caves are incredible to look at but lethal without the appropriate footwear!
A popular day trip destination, Castello di Sperlinga is around an hour and a half away by car from tourist hubs like Catania. Getting here without a car is a challenge, so I recommend hiring a car and parking in the village if you’re heading out here.
Entrance fees come in at around €5.
Castello Normanno
Another almost millennia-old castle in Sicily is Castello Normanno, which we Sicilians often call Castello di Aci. It’s just 20 minutes north of Catania, so it’s among the most-visited and easy-to-reach fortresses on this list.
Its seaside setting was once a Byzantine bastion before the Normans arrived and put the current castle in its place in the 11th century. The compact town of Aci Castello gradually developed around the castle, which was captured and attacked many times over the years.
It may be one of the smaller Norman castles in Sicily, but its old-world charm and location on a rocky outcrop made it just as impressive. I also loved the botanical garden on site, which was even more picturesque as the sun started to go down.
Castello Normanno is connected to Catania by bus, so it’s super convenient even if you don’t want to hire a car to get here. Those of you who’d prefer to drive will have a couple of nearby car parks to pick from.
Tickets for Castello Normanno usually go for €5.
Castello di Venere
Next, we’re moving west over the other side of the island for the next castle of Sicily. Here, you’ll find Castello di Venere, which is perched in the hillside town of Erice.
Castello di Venere was built by the Normans in the 12th century on top of the Temple of Venus. Despite centuries of battles, sieges, and destructions, this massive castle is still as stately and imposing as ever.
Even if you’ve had your fix of medieval castles, you won’t regret coming up for the sweeping vistas over the deep blue waters and rolling Sicilian countryside. I’ve visited here on a few occasions, and gazing at the age-old ruins among the vibrant green hills never gets old.
Trapani is the nearest major city, and you can reach Erice from here by cable car, which is more scenic than making the 45-minute drive.
At present, entry to Castello di Venere is free, and the cable car costs €6 for a one-way journey and €9.50 for a return ticket.
Add These Enchanting Sicilian Castles to Your Travel Itinerary!
There’s no better place to discover Sicily’s turbulent and compelling past than in the castles that have seen many conquests and conflicts throughout history.
I’m always astounded at how little-known the castles in Sicily are compared to many of the island’s other architectural marvels, and even we Sicilians don’t always give them their dues!If you want to dig deeper into medieval-era Sicily, these castles should be at the top of your list.