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The long walls of Castello di Lombardia at Sicily's navel, Enna

Castello di Lombardia

The hilltop fortress at Sicily's centre, with Etna on its horizon.

  • Enna
  • Castle
Where
Enna
Best for
Sicily's largest medieval castle
Allow
1 hr 30 min
Tickets
Free

At the geographic centre of Sicily, Enna's Castello di Lombardia is the largest medieval castle on the island, covering some 23,000 square meters. Behind long walls once stood twenty towers, of which six survive, around three courtyards and the remains of Byzantine defences.

The reward is the Pisan Tower, the highest and best preserved, from whose terrace the view runs across half of Sicily to Etna. This is the panorama that earned Enna its reputation as the belvedere of the island, and the reason it was known since antiquity as the navel of Sicily. In the grounds a statue honors Eunus, the Syrian slave who led a revolt here in the second century BC.

Three things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The Pisan Tower

    The highest and best-preserved tower, with a terrace that looks across half of Sicily to Etna.The innermost courtyard

  2. The Piazzale di San Nicola

    Royal apartments, the chapel of San Martino di Tours and a rock-cut oratory.The innermost courtyard, the last line of defense

  3. The Piazzale degli Armati

    An open-air theatre space and the base of the Zecca Tower.The theatrical entrance

Plan your visit

Tickets
Free
Booking
Check booking requirements
Time needed
1 hr 30 min
Best time
Clear late afternoons, for the light across the valleys to Etna
Getting there
At the edge of Enna's old town, reached on foot along Via Roma; Enna is the highest provincial capital in Italy, so expect a climb. There is parking below the walls, including reserved spaces for disabled visitors.
Accessibility
Partly accessible: ramps in four sections lead through the site, and there are accessible restrooms and reserved parking. The approach from the car park has stairs, the courtyards are gravel and cobbles, and the Pisan Tower's stairs are steep.

Entry is free, according to the provincial info point. Some older sources list a small ticket, so a nominal fee at the tower may apply.

Save your energy for the Pisan Tower and climb it on a clear day, when the whole central plateau and Etna show.

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Good to know

How long should you spend at the Castello di Lombardia?

About an hour and a half. That covers the courtyards and the climb up the Pisan Tower, where the view is the main reward.

Is the Castello di Lombardia worth visiting?

Yes. It is the largest medieval castle in Sicily, and the view from the Pisan Tower is the reason to climb.

Do you need to book the Castello di Lombardia?

No, tickets are sold on site. It is a big complex, so you can wander freely between courtyards.

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