Montechiaro
Montechiaro, otherwise known as
Chiaramontano castle, may have been started in 1358 by Count
Frederick Chiaramonte of Modica (d.1363). Certainly it was in
his possession at his death. In 1392, after the execution of
Count Andrew Chiaramonte, King Martin (d.1409) gave the castle to William Raymond
Moncada. He rebelled 5 years later and the castle was given
to Giovanni Grixo and then Palmerio Caro, whose family held the
fortress until the mid seventeenth century.
Description
The castle, on a hill overlooking the little bay of Sirene some
distance from Palma di Montechiaro, is set on a rocky ridge.
The heart of the fortress is a 2 storey rhomboid keep which is part of
the polygonal enclosure. In some ways Montechiaro resembles a
mini Caccamo, but many of the features of the castle have been obscured
by a heavy restoration in the early part of the century which rescued
the ruins from further decay.
Entrance to the castle is gained from the south via a barbican,
somewhat similar to the one found at Taormina. Externally this has a
pointed gateway. To the northeast is a long rectangular building
that consists of at least 2 separate parts. The larger
southern portion is made of a loose rubble and has Romanesque windows
in its upper floor and 2 straight loops on the ground floor.
Its south wall is ashlar, as is its northern third. Obviously
it is a composite structure and shows that the castle was of at least 2
phases and not one as is generally stated. The building now
houses the chapel, which contains the Madonna di Montechiaro - a marble
statue sculpted by Antonello Gagini (1478-1536). Beneath this
may be a cistern. West of the keep is a smaller block, again
of 2 storeys. Judging from old photographs, the battlements are all modern.
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