I didn’t get a chance to tour the inside of the castle, but I felt compelled to make one comment that may be interesting. There are many different designs for castles and they usually fall somewhere on a continuum of palace on one end and military defense on the other end. From a military standpoint, I especially like this design. Inevitably, while a military siege is taking place, on the castle, the defenders will have to leave the castle to resupply itself. Leaving the castle underwater, probably like this case, seems to me to be the most clandestine method of doing so.

This castle charges an entry fee. It is located at the very tip of Ortigia island - a dramatic site. In style it is quite plain and massive. Dramatic views across the bay can be had in places and you can walk around sections of the walls. However views from the very tip of the island are only available to taller folk: the walls obscure the view for us shorter people.

Beautiful but why does it seem so hard in Sicily to add some explanations when visiting castles and ancient monuments. Only few explanations are given and merely in Italian very often. Seems like Italy is not expecting tourism from abroad. I find this very irritating. Otherwise beautiful castle with a great history

The castle is situated right on the ocean on island of Ortigia, Sicily . Built in 1242 it’s in very good shape and easy to walk through . The inside roof and castle is impressive . Well worth the 5euros.