The Sala della Congiura - or the Conspiracy Hall - is the most notable room within the Castello di Caccamo. In 1160, some Norman barons met in this room to plot against William I of Sicily, but the rebellion failed.
Most people think of a castle as a single, solid block of stone, but Caccamo is more of a maze. Built by Matthew Bonnellus in the 12th century, this massive white stone structure sits 521 metres above sea level on a steep cliff. It has an irregular plan, V-shaped battlements, towers, a moat, and a courtyard.
It survived centuries of modifications until an earthquake in 1923 caused parts of the castle to collapse. It was inhabited by descendants of the Dukes of Caccamo until the Region of Sicily purchased it in October 1963. Restoration work funded by the Region began in 1974.
Today, the castle is open to the public. A restaurant called A Castellana is located on the ground level of the castle, while other parts of the structure are also used for conferences and meetings.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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