Castello Ursino, Gothic castle in Catania, Italy
Castello Ursino is a square fortress with round towers at each corner surrounding an open courtyard with thick stone walls from the 13th century. The structure spans multiple levels containing exhibition spaces where weapons and artworks are displayed.
Frederick II commissioned this fortress between 1239 and 1250 as part of a coastal defense system for Sicily. The military architect Riccardo da Lentini designed the structure as part of the region's broader defensive strategy.
The castle now houses a city museum with medieval weapons, Roman objects, and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. These collections show how different time periods have coexisted in Catania.
Access to the castle allows visitors to explore multiple floors with different exhibitions, including weapons on the lower level and art collections above. It is helpful to allow enough time to move through all rooms at a comfortable pace.
The castle was originally built on a coastal cliff but was gradually moved away from the shore by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Today it sits about one kilometer inland from the Mediterranean, despite being designed as a coastal fortress.
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