Serravalle a Mineo
It is uncertain when the castle was founded. In
1296, during the war of the Sicilian Vespers (1282-1302), the fief of
Serravalle belonged to Geoffrey Tratto, although by 1330 it belonged to his heirs. The heir
turned out to be his daughter, Sofia. In 1360 the fiefdom was
purchased by Perrone Giorni and in 1372 passed to Nicholas
Castagna. At the end of the fourteenth century he passed the fief
and castle to Giovanni di Taranto. Therefore the castle was
certainly in existence by this time, if not much earlier.
Description
The fortress, another called Castelluccio, stands on a rocky outcrop
called Pizzuto, which lies in the territory of Mineo. From here,
with Mineo and Mongialino castle
it controlled the southern approaches to Catania. The mention of
the fee in 1296 may suggest it was built in the time of the Sicilian
Vespers war (1282-1302). The core of the castle is a rectangular
tower keep, roughly 35' by 20', onto which has been built a large 30'
square tower at a lower level to the south. The arrangement is
most unusual. The original keep was of at least 4 floors and has
ground floor loops as well as pointed windows in the upper floors to
the south and east.
To the east of these structures is a small forecourt, while the main,
lower bailey lies to the north. The whole is equipped with
probably sixteenth century Ghibelline battlements. The whole
structure is rubble built with good quality quoins, however the keep
itself is made of less well laid rubble, which probably indicates its
greater age than the other structures. On the north side, alone
at the top of the tower and in the bailey curtain, putlog holes pierce
the walls. Presumably these sections were rebuilt at a later date.
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Paul Martin Remfry