Castello Ursino
Photo: Leandro's World Tour
FlickrWhere: Catania (CT)
History: the name Ursino comes from the Latin "Castrum sinus", i.e. "castle of the gulf" -- originally it stood high above the sea, but as a result of the lava flow caused by the eruption of Mount Etna in 1669 it is now some hundreds of metres from the coast. Ursino Castle, a stern, massive construction, was built between 1239 and 1250 by the architect Richard of Lentini, by order of Frederick II of Swabia. The castle was the residence of the Aragonese royal family in the 14th century. In the mid-18th century it was surrounded by imposing defensive walls and later altered in the southern part in Renaissance style. In 1837 it became a prison. Today, restored and illuminated by an evocative lighting system, it is the seat of the Civic Museum, and the picture gallery is the venue of art exhibitions.
watching here right now
