Between 1239 and 1250, Frederick II ordered to build the Ursino Castle for defensive purpose of the East coast of Sicily and it was on a promontory surrounded by sea. The castle’s project was designed and realized by the architect Riccardo from Lentini, who decided to make it a symbol of authority and imperial power.

Due to the eruption in 1669, the lava that flowed on the south of the castle, where today there’s the neighborhood “Guardian Angels“, towards the sea, wrapped it from the west and east side with two streams of magma, that filled up the ditches and reduced the “apparent” height from the new floor, in fact the bases of the towers, called “elephant-foot” for their shape, disappeared from view and only 20 years ago they have been unearthed. The lava had a front of about 800-900 meters, spilling into the sea close to the building, it created a new strip of land, and from that moment the Ursino Castle was no longer overlooking the sea.

In the sixteenth century became the temporary Viceroys‘ residence and some areas were used as a prison. The graffiti and inscriptions written by prisoners on the walls are still visible on the ground floor, despite its many renovations.
In 1934 it was restored with the intention of renewing its original Swabian style (when it wasn’t possible to the Renaissance’s one) and it became the seat of the Civic Museum in Catania.

The museum contains Benedictine monastery’s collections, a part of the prince Biscari’s one, and some findings of those donated to it by Baron Asmundo-Zappalà.

Source – Foto by dom fellowes