Montalbano Castle, in the Nebrodi Mountains, was part of Frederick II's plan to provide Sicily with a system of "strong points" defending the whole territory. Constructed in its present form between 1302 and 1311, it played a leading role in the control of the underlying valley, the River Montalbano, the inland roads running towards the Alcantara valley, the Tyrrhenian coast, and the long ridges of the Nebrodi Mountains. An overall view of the massive castle shows the successive historical stratifications over the centuries: from the original Norman-style nucleus to the transformations effected by the Aragonese and the functional modifications that were successively introduced, thus making it - over the years - a 14th-cent. baronial palace, a Jesuit house, and the seat of public offices. The castle is square in shape, presenting a courtyard with three wings. The keep is built on an outcrop of rock. The splendour of the past can now be seen only in part of the external structure, in what is left of a tower, and in a fine chapel. The castle is now used for cultural events and as a theatre workshop.

Details of the Montalbano Elicona Castle

(click on the photos to enlarge)