Abandoned Castle Holds Hidden Secrets and Ancient Tales in Poira, Italy

The Poira Castle, known as the Castle of the Baroness of Poira, is an ancient ruin, nestled in Paternò, Catania, Italy. The castle, consisting of four large structures, served residential, religious, storage, animal sheltering, and defensive functions. It was a masseria, or a large estate, until the end of the 20th century. The barons Spitaleri of Adernò made it their residence towards the end of the 19th century. However, during this period, the castle was subject to the infamous 'Sequestro Spitaleri', a brazen attack by the Banda Maurina, a group of brigands.

The brigands demanded and received 50,000 lire for their security. Despite this, they intruded and plundered the castle before fleeing. In 1995, the Italian cultural authority discovered a Greek necropolis on Poira Hill, dating back to the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Nearby, the 'Grotta degli Schiavi', a potential Roman Ergastulum, was unearthed. This structure may have been used to imprison slaves and rebels.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons