{"id":68102,"date":"2015-02-16T12:51:57","date_gmt":"2015-02-16T11:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=68102"},"modified":"2026-10-13T08:08:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T07:08:39","slug":"ursino-castle-of-catania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/ursino-castle-of-catania","title":{"rendered":"Ursino Castle of Catania"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ursino Castle of Catania<\/strong> was built between 1239 and 1250 on the orders of Frederick II of Swabia by Riccardo da Lentini, his master builder. Since 1934, it has housed municipal collections, including archaeological, Greco-Roman, medieval, Renaissance and modern sections, an interesting picture gallery, with in particular the collections of the Princes of Biscari and the Benedictines.<\/p>\n

Historical overview<\/h2>\n

This powerful square construction, with four corner towers about 30 metres high, was erected like other fortresses to protect the borders of the empire, preserve the coast from pirate attacks and assert imperial power.
The towers are circular on the outside, with an internal octagonal plan, walls about 2.5 to 3 metres thick. Originally, it faced the sea and was surrounded by moats and other defences, elevated on a maritime promontory.<\/p>\n

During the eruption of 1669, the lava flows skirted around it, encircling the castle, and pushed the coast back several hundred metres.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, the castle gradually lost its military function, notably because of firearms and earthquakes, while being used as a prison (until 1838) and as a barracks.<\/p>\n\n\n