CACCAMO
Behind Termini Imerese, on
the Sicilian inland, where one can enjoy magnificent olive
orchards, is where you can find the beautiful Caccamo Castle
standing out against the skyline.
The rock on which it stands was inhabited since ancient times
due to its important strategic position, which allowed control
over the whole territory.
Its certain that the Arabs already knew about it, but its
name could even have been derived from Greek or be Carthaginian.
The first time in which its was officially documented was
in 1093, under the Norman count Ruggero I of Altavilla.
Caccamo, for many years, was in feud, governed by noble families,
amongst which the Chiaramonte, the Prades, the Cabrera (1420-1480),
the Henriquez until 1646, the Galti and the Amato, ending
with the De Spuches.
Things to visit in Caccamo: the Duomo of San Giorgio (1090),
the churches: Chiesa dell'Annunziata, Chiesa of S. Benedetto
(1615) and S. Maria degli Angeli (1487),
Caccamo is identified by its magnificent Norman castle, which
was definitely built on a pre-existing Arabic or Byzantine
building. This is where the nobles of Caccamo lived for 8
centuries, adding every kind of substantial modification to
its structure.
This is a visit that should not be missed, just to enjoy the
splendid panorama over the valley and the coastal area.
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