Castello di Caccamo

Caccamo Castle
Castello di Caccamo
Caccamo, Sicily, Italy
The castle as seen from the northwest
Castello di Caccamo
Coordinates	37°55′54.4″N 13°39′36.4″E / 37.931778°N 13.660111°E / 37.931778; 13.660111
Type	Castle
Site information
Owner	Region of Sicily
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Intact
Site history
Built	12th century
Built by	Matthew Bonnellus
Materials	Stone
Events	Barons' Revolt of 1160

The Castello di Caccamo (English: Caccamo Castle) is a castle in Caccamo, Sicily. It is among the largest and best preserved Norman castles in Sicily, and one of the largest in Italy.

The castle is built on a steep cliff, 521 metres above sea level. It overlooks the surrounding countryside, including the San Leonardo River Valley, and the Rosmarina artificial lake.

The site of the Castello di Caccamo was probably originally occupied by an Arab fortress. The castle as it is today was built by Matthew Bonnellus in the 12th century. It was later modified by the Chiaramontes in the 14th century, and by other rulers until the 17th century.

The castle is a large structure built of white stone, having an irregular plan. It has walls with V-shaped battlements, towers, a moat and a courtyard. The interior consists of a maze of rooms and stairways.

The most notable room within the castle is the Sala della Congiura, also known as the Conspiracy Hall. In 1160, some Norman barons met in this room to plot against William I of Sicily, but the rebellion failed.

Parts of the castle collapsed in an earthquake in 1923.

The castle was inhabited by descendants of the Dukes of Caccamo until it was purchased by the Region of Sicily in October 1963. By this time, the castle was in ruins. Restoration work funded by the Region of Sicily began in 1974.

Today, the castle is open to the public. A restaurant called A Castellana is located on the ground level of the castle, while other parts of the structure are also used for conferences and meetings.