Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the major attractions of the city of Licata, as well as a noteworthy historical building of significant architectural style, located on top of a hill. The area in which Castel Sant’Angelo stands is rich in historical elements, gathering ancient sites within a territory that represents a stunning housing for archaeological finds, ancient buildings, necropolises, and picturesque paths created by previous populations that have crossed Sicily and lived in these locations in ancient eras.
The History of Castel Sant’Angelo in Licata
Where nowadays stands Castel Sant’Angelo, there previously was a watchtower, established as the forefather of this sumptuous building, whose construction began in 1615 and was commissioned by the commander of the Kingdom of Sicily Hernando Petigno. The installation was completed in 1640, after the halt that extended its realization.
Although Castel Sant’Angelo was meant to be a defensive fortress, neither military events nor enemy attacks ever occurred, succeeding in preserving its beauty to this day. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it also played a decisive role for the Air Forces, housing its garrison until 1965, the year of its final disposal. In the 1980s it was the subject of important restorations, renovating some of its parts no longer in use, to open the building to the public.
The architecure of Castel Sant’Angelo in Licata
Castel Sant’Angelo is a beautiful representation of military architecture in the Sicilian baroque style, particularly representative of the eighteenth century. The floorplan of this building is triangular in shape, just as it is in the inner courtyard, where you can find a large cistern underground, used previously to hold the water used by the court in various ways. The external walls are quite robust and thick, and their summit is decorated with narrow battlements, to accommodate the transition of the guards. The corners of Castel Sant’Angelo are distinguished by the presence of majestic towers, that served a significant role in detecting any enemy threats in the distance. The entrance was allowed only by means of a drawbridge, which led to the inner courtyard, surrounded by stalls and warehouses, as well as the soldier’s barracks. On the lower floor of Castel Sant’Angelo, there was also a small Vault, of which today only a few ruins remain, including some hints of frescoes decorating, at the time, its interior walls.
How to get to Castel Sant’Angelo in Licata
Castel Sant’Angelo rises on top of a hill on the western side of the city of Licata, just 700 meters away from the historical centre. It is fairly simple to get to Licata and discover its beautiful landmarks since it is well connected to the rest of Sicily by Country Roads 7, 34, 67, and National Road 123, and also reached by Sicilian bus lines. The train station of Licata is the perfect solution for those who travel by train, while those who have to travel by plane can land at the Airport of Comiso, just 70 km away, or at the Airport of Fontanarossa in Catania, about 130 km away from Licata.
Source: https://sicilyintour.com/luogo/castel-santangelo-a-licata/