Enna heart of Sicily and enchantment of millenary history...

Pietraperzia Castle

In 1154 Edrisi, in the book of Ruggero, described the Barresio of Pietraperzia Castle like this: "Strong castle and very firm fortalice, possess very extensive borders". Built up on a calcareous rock, on a previous Islamic fortification, it was remade and widened by the Normans and had furthers readjustments in the following centuries. It was provided with large cannons and whit opportune rivellini in order to adapt it to the new defence technics. The chapel, with just one ancient nave, was embellished with frescoes and with a painting, representing the Madonna of the Chain. Opposite to the chapel, a portal leads to a wide courtyard, once rich in decorative elements, mostly removed by the Princes Travia Lanza, moved to Palermo. Under the great hall there was the weapons hall, where were kept knights and horses armours, helmets, swords and halberds, that, transferred to the Agrigento Museum, were put to the sack in 1820 by the rebels. The castle remained property of the Barresi family (it was given to it from Federico II in 1200) until 1571, when died the last dynasty’s member. Than it passed to the Barresi sister, Prince Branciforte’s bride. After inhabited by the squires of the place, it has been subsequently let to the commune, that transformed it in jail.