Built by the Arabs, this was a fortified castle inside the city itself, in an area now adjacent to the quays of the port. One of Palermo's most ancient constructions, it was the favourite residence of Frederick II during his sojourns in Palermo, and for centuries its main task was to serve as a fortified outpost protecting the harbour area. It was later a seat of the Inquisition and in the 1800s a Bourbon prison. The castle is in two main parts: the keep, surrounded by a zone of respect, and an extensive archaeological zone with a mixed medley of buildings.

Details of the Sea castle (Palermo)

(click on the photos to enlarge)