Guastanella
In 1087 Guastaliella was a Muslim fortress that fell to Count Roger Hauteville
(d.1101) after his successful siege of Agrigento. The castle appears to have been retained by the
Crown, or was reoccupied when the Muslims rebelled against the pope at
the end of the twelfth century during the minority of Frederick II
(d.1250). In 1220 Bishop Ursone of Agrigento was captured by
the rebel Muslims and held captive at the castle. The
fortress probably fell to Frederick as he crushed the various Muslim
revolts soon after this. The castle was later infeudated so
that Bartholomew Montaperot was lord of Guastanella in 1305.
The fortress was still in existence in 1355 and in 1392 King Martin I granted
the land to Count William Raymond Moncada of Adrano
and Agosta (d.1398), but it was returned that same June. The
fortress was last mentioned as such in 1558.
Description
Monte Guastanella at 2,000' dominates Santa Elisabetta some 2 miles to
the east. The castle lies above a small cave and 2 rock
carved tombs from the Bronze age and occupies the summit of the long
ridge of the mountain. Precipitous drops make the fortress
only approachable from the north. The ruins are much denuded,
but seem to show a rectangular structure about 80' long by 25'
wide. There may be a rectangular keep filling the width of
the structure, but this is only about 25' by 15' deep. The
walls throughout seem about 4' thick. Within the enceinte are
2 cisterns, one with a barrel vault, the other rock cut.
There are traces of other internal structures with walls only some 2'
thick. The flimsiness of this Arab castle should be compared
with the stronger works at Entella
and Calatafimi, as
well as other, stronger hill castles in similar positions like Calatamauro and Calatrasi.
Why not join me at other Sicilian
castles? Information on this and other tours can be found at Scholarly
Sojourns.
Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry