The Swabian Castle of Gela, also known as Castelluccio di Gela, is one of the most characteristic historic buildings in the city's hinterland. It is a work dating back to the Swabian period, built on a chalk hill, a strategic position which also allowed the sighting of any enemies in the distance. The Swabian Castle of Gela is a real archaeological pearl for the city, which boasts the presence of numerous other remains in its territory, even more dated and dating back to the Greek era.
History of the Swabian Castle of Gela
The area where the Swabian Castle of Gela stands is already mentioned in the 12th century: some documents testify to the transfer of ownership of the fortress between Count Simone di Butera and the Abbot of the Monastery of San Nicolo La Rena of Catania, through a concession for donation in 1143. The Swabian Castle of Gela was built with the aim of defending the city from possible enemy incursions arriving from the Sicilian hinterland, as it was located along the path that connects Gela to the city of Catania, already crossed at that time by a large number of people, mainly merchants but also brigands, with the latter attacking the former to deprive them of all their possessions.
Architecture of the Swabian Castle of Gela
The architectural style of the Swabian Castle of Gela is very simple, as it does not exceed either in the decorations or in the battlements, resulting sober in its entirety. Some ruins remain of Castelluccio di Gela, which, however, allow us to reconstruct its history and understand its original form. It is certain that the Castello Svevo di Gela had a rectangular plan, while as regards the materials used for its construction, the yellow and white calcarenite predominates, carefully smoothed to create large blocks. The walls are very thick, precisely to further highlight its defensive functions, also confirmed by the presence of two large towers at the ends, the interiors of which can still be visited today and note, in one, the remains of an ancient cistern, and of a small chapel in the other. Although it is possible to note only the lowest level of the Castello Svevo di Gela, scholars agree that it was made up of several floors: this thesis is confirmed by some windows which lead to this very theory. Entering the Castelluccio it is possible to see its features, with some rooms that have managed to resist the passage of centuries, thus being able to observe the rooms that were used as stables and as warehouses.
How to get to the Swabian Castle of Gela
The Swabian Castle of Gela is about 10 km away from the historic center of Gela, but in any case well connected thanks to the Strada Statale 117bis, the same that together with the Strada Statale 115 and the Provincial Roads 8, 81 and 82 allow anyone to reach Gela from any point in Sicily, both by car and with the Sicilian bus lines. Those traveling by train will find the Gela Railway Station the best solution for reaching these places, while those arriving in Sicily by plane can count on the Comiso Airport, about 40 km away, or the Fontanarossa Airport in Catania, located about 100km away.
Source: sicilyintour.com
Translated by Google •
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