Contenu masquer
1 Historical overview
2 Visiting the castle
3 Where is the Ursino Castle of Catania
4 Information

The Ursino Castle of Catania 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.

Historical overview

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.

During the eruption of 1669, the lava flows skirted around it, encircling the castle, and pushed the coast back several hundred metres.

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.

  • Ursino Castle in Catania and lava
    Ursino Castle
  • Ursino Castle of Catania
    Ursino Castle
  • Ursino Castle of Catania
    Ursino Castle
  • Ursino Castle of Catania
    Ursino Castle
  • Ursino Castle of Catania
    Ursino Castle
  • Ursino Castle at night in Catania
    Ursino Castle at night
  • Ursino Castle and lava in Catania
    Ursino Castle and old lava flows

Visiting the castle

You can see the inner courtyard with sarcophagi and ancient fragments, exhibition rooms devoted to the archaeological, Greco-Roman and pictorial collections, as well as temporary exhibitions.
Graffiti by historical prisoners is still visible in the courtyard, and the collections include those of the Princes of Biscari and the Benedictines.

The visit lasts about an hour and a half to explore the courtyard, the ground floor and the first floor, longer to discover the temporary exhibitions.

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Where is the Ursino Castle of Catania

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Information

Visiting conditions

The castle is now open to the public as a civic museum, every day from 9 am to 7 pm, last entry at 6 pm. The full price is about €6, reduced to €3, with special rates for schools and groups.
Address: Piazza Federico II di Svevia, 95121 Catania.
museocivico.castelloursino@comune.catania.it – Tel. +39 095 345830.

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