Castle of Ventimiglia, Medieval fortress on Mount Bonifato near Alcamo, Italy.
The Castle of Ventimiglia is a medieval fortress perched on Mount Bonifato above Alcamo in Sicily. The structure features thick stone walls and a surviving donjon tower positioned at the northwest corner, which forms the main remnant of the complex.
The original castle was destroyed by Frederick II in 1243, but the Ventimiglia family rebuilt it before 1391 and established it as their defensive stronghold. This reconstruction marked a turning point in the fortification's history.
The castle incorporates architectural elements from different periods, featuring a combination of military fortification techniques used in medieval Sicilian defensive structures.
The castle ruins are accessible through the Nature Reserve Bosco di Alcamo, with parking available at the base of Mount Bonifato. The climb through the wooded terrain is relatively manageable for most visitors.
The surviving tower contained four floors, including a ground-level cistern and a rooftop platform for fire signals. This internal layout shows how water was collected and alerts were transmitted across distances.
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