Cannizzu Tower in Castiglione di Sicilia
The Torre del Cannizzu di Castiglione is a circular turret, whose origin dates back to between the 12th and 14th centuries, with a shoe base, with an entrance raised from the ground and an upper row of slits. It is located west of the town of Castiglione, just outside the city walls. The place where the tower is located is very suggestive: an overhanging wall is interspersed with narrow passages between sandstone blocks, there are several wind caves that once housed men, the fertile soil makes lush olive trees, vines, prickly pears grow and other fruit trees.
The tower is about six meters high, has a radius of about three meters, and is made with squared local sandstone. The fortress was the first stronghold to be conquered by Frederick II, king of Sicily, when in 1301 he reconquered the fief, taking it away from Ruggiero di Lauria. Most likely, it was part of a more complex fortification system, called the Citadel, and served as a lookout post. In fact, the tower dominates the entire upper Alcantara valley.
