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Misilmeri, paese che sorge nei pressi della città di Palermo, deve il suo nome ad un casale arabo detto Manzel al Amir-Casale dellEmiro, verosimilmente, una torre fortificata attorno alla quale si sviluppò il primo nucleo del paese.
Questa torre ben presto divenne un castello a custodia del territorio circostante e fu adibito anche ad uso agricolo.
La costruzione si fa risalire al grande emiro Giafar II che governò la Sicilia tra il 996 e il 1016 d.C.
Nella campagna circostante nel 1068 si combattè una dura battaglia vinta dai francesi del Conte Ruggero DAltavilla.
Il castello divenne proprietà del Grande Ammiraglio Giorgio di Antiochia che lo donò al Vescovo della Diocesi e infine, fu proprietà dei Chiaramonte che lo comprarono dai Caltagirone (in questo periodo operò nel castello il grande arch. Matteo Carnalivari).
Il Castello fu una delle più importanti fortificazioni della Sicilia a custodia dei “Feudi”.
Caduto il baronaggio cominciò a decadere pure il castello che, perduta la sua vera funzione, si avviò verso un lungo decadimento strutturale e presto divenne un rudere.
Recentemente è stato restaurato e nella Giornata del FAI del 27 marzo 2010 è stato inaugurato. I recenti restauri hanno portato in luce diverse vestigia e tanti graffiti a testimonianza del passato glorioso del castello poichè fu uno fra i più importanti quaranta castelli della provincia di Palermo.
Visite: il castello è sempre aperto
Ingresso: gratuito. via Castello
Come arrivare: SS 121 direzione Agrigento, uscita Misilmeri-Belmonte Mezzagno; entrare nella SP77 (c.so Scarpello), P.zza Comitato 1860, prendere la prima a sinistra in direzione Via G. Verdi e infine la Via Castello
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*ENGLISH
Misilmeri, a village near the city of Palermo, owes its name to an Arabic farmhouse called Manzel at Amir-Casale dell’Emiro, probably a fortified tower around which the first nucleus of the country developed.
This tower soon became a castle guarding the surrounding area and was also employed for agricultural use.
The construction dates back to the great Emperor Giafar II who ruled Sicily between 996 and 1016 AD.
In 1068 in the surrounding countryside a tough battle was fought, it was won by the French troops of Roger D’Altavilla.
The castle was owned by the Great Admiral Giorgio of Antioch who gave it to the Bishop of the Diocese, eventually it was owned by the Chiaramontes who bought it from the Caltagirones (during this period the great architect Matteo Carnalivari worked in the castle).
The Castle was one of the most important fortifications in Sicily in custody of the “Feuds” of that time.
As “baronage” was about to fall the castle began to decline and it lost its true function as well. A long structural decay started, so it became a ruin.
It has recently been restored and on March 27th 2010 on FAI Day it was inaugurated. Recent restorations have brought various vestiges to light and many graffiti witness the glorious past of the castle since it was one of the most important forty castles in the province of Palermo.
Visits: the Castle is always open
Free entry. Via Castello
How to get there: SS 121 direction Agrigento, exit Misilmeri-Belmonte Mezzagno; Enter the SP77 (c.so Scarpello), P.zza Comitato 1860, turn the first left towards Via G. Verdi and finally Via Castello
This tower soon became a castle guarding the surrounding area and was also employed for agricultural use.
The construction dates back to the great Emperor Giafar II who ruled Sicily between 996 and 1016 AD.
In 1068 in the surrounding countryside a tough battle was fought, it was won by the French troops of Roger D’Altavilla.
The castle was owned by the Great Admiral Giorgio of Antioch who gave it to the Bishop of the Diocese, eventually it was owned by the Chiaramontes who bought it from the Caltagirones (during this period the great architect Matteo Carnalivari worked in the castle).
The Castle was one of the most important fortifications in Sicily in custody of the “Feuds” of that time.
As “baronage” was about to fall the castle began to decline and it lost its true function as well. A long structural decay started, so it became a ruin.
It has recently been restored and on March 27th 2010 on FAI Day it was inaugurated. Recent restorations have brought various vestiges to light and many graffiti witness the glorious past of the castle since it was one of the most important forty castles in the province of Palermo.
Visits: the Castle is always open
Free entry. Via Castello
How to get there: SS 121 direction Agrigento, exit Misilmeri-Belmonte Mezzagno; Enter the SP77 (c.so Scarpello), P.zza Comitato 1860, turn the first left towards Via G. Verdi and finally Via Castello