Information
Name: Castello di Castelbuono
Type: Landmarks and Outdoors
Classification: Castles of Sicily
Castelbuono, 423 meters above sea level in the Madonie Geopark, arose around the Ventimiglia Castle. In the Middle Ages, it depended on the monastery of Lipari and was struck by epidemics in the 16th century. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, it became an artistic center and was elevated to a city with the construction of the Matrice Nuova and a theater. Since 1821, it has been an independent municipality, also known for figures such as the naturalist Francesco Minà Palumbo.
The Ventimiglia Castle, built in 1317 by Francis I on the Byzantine site of Ypsigro, was the permanent residence of the family from 1454, when the relic of Saint Anne, later the patron saint of Castelbuono, was kept in the chapel of the same name, richly decorated with stucco from the Serpotta school. With a quadrangular plan, it combines Arab, Norman, and Swabian elements; It preserves decorated rooms, including the "Sala Magna" with its 15th-century wooden ceiling.
The Castelbuono Civic Museum, housed in the Ventimiglia Castle, preserves and enhances the local historical and artistic heritage and promotes contemporary art, education, and participatory projects. It includes sections dedicated to archaeology, urban planning (the evolution of Castelbuono and Ventimiglia patronage), modern and contemporary art (collections and donations, including the Paolo Cicero Fund), and sacred art (the treasure of Sant'Anna and the 1521 reliquary). It hosts temporary exhibitions and collaborations with international artists and institutions.
The Castelbuono Castle is a magnificent "memory machine" in excellent condition and accessible to the disabled (elevators).
Its rooms contain a rich collection of diverse works and offer:
a ticket office with a computerized entry system;
a bookshop with wooden structures and display cases;
A characteristic courtyard with a simple yet functional staircase (approximately 12 x 9 meters);
A chapel richly decorated with Baroque-style stucco (on the top floor of the castle, seating approximately 100);
A conference room in the "Sala Magna" with a decorated wooden ceiling (on the top level of the castle), seating 140, equipped with Wi-Fi, a screen and projector, sound reinforcement, and an integrated lighting design solution for intelligent space management.
At Castelbuono Castle, in a unique setting with a medieval and austere feel, it is possible to organize conferences and seminars, higher education initiatives, weddings, and music and theater events.
