Palazzo Steri
The palace was apparently begun in 1307 by Manfred Chiaramonte. In 1296, for his support in bringing Frederick III (1295-1337) to the throne, he had been made count of Modica with the fiefs of Agrigento, Caccamo, Licata and lands in Palermo, where he founded his palace. After a spirited defence the palace was surrendered to King Martin I (1392-1409) by Andrew Chiaramonte who was later executed outside it on 1 June
1392, thus bringing his house to an end. His decapitated body has been found in the palace chapel.
Description
Now better known as Palazzo Chiaramonte, the palace was begun as
a large rectangular block with a great hall and ancillary rooms
placed around a central courtyard. It stands 3 storeys high and
is renowned for its 3 light mullioned windows and the wooden ceiling of
the great hall with its paintings of biblical scenes as well as
chivalric scenes. The palace typifies Chiaramontan style and is
somewhat confusingly used to date Mussomeli castle to the late fourteenth century.
Why not join me here and at other Sicilian
castles? Information on this and other tours can be found at Scholarly
Sojourns.
Copyright©2019
Paul Martin Remfry
