Punta Troia Castle

The Punta Troia Castle is a must-see destination for those who visit the island of Marettimo, especially for those who love natural landscapes.

The origins of the Punta Troia Castle

The Punta Troia Castle was built around 827 AD, during the Saracen invasion of the island. It was mainly created as an observation and defense point: the chosen location, the end of the Punta Troia promontory, with its 116 meters of altitude, made it a perfect place to spot the surprise attacks of enemy ships in time.

It was only around 1140 that the then King of Sicily, Roger II, wanted to reinforce the meager original fortification, transforming it into a real castle: the construction had to dominate, with its imposing presence, the easternmost end of his vast and rich kingdom.

During the subsequent dominations, the castle remained practically unchanged, thanks to the isolation that the various dominations had imposed on the island.

During the 16th century, during the long Spanish domination, the Viceroy redefined the structure of the castle. The current layout and fortifications almost perfectly follow the structural and architectural choices implemented during that period.

The complex of buildings that formed the castle was the only defense for the islanders during the years when the Mediterranean was invaded by pirates and corsairs who, with their frequent raids, endangered the few inhabitants, forced to take refuge in the caves.

With the transfer of ownership of the Egadi archipelago in 1637, a period of relative prosperity began for the island of Marettimo.

In fact, a few years later, in 1651, an important coral bank was discovered which encouraged the passage and overnight stay of boats that collected this precious material. The safety of the cargo and the coral collectors themselves was ensured by the guard soldiers at the Castle, which continued to be a military garrison.

The Punta Troia prison

With the advent of the French Revolution, under the command of the new Viceroy, the Castle was transformed from a defense garrison into a prison in which to imprison Jacobins and other political opponents.

In 1793, the so-called "Real Castle of Marettimo" housed 52 people, all gathered in the pit, the ancient water cistern built during the Spanish domination.

Some survived imprisonment: for example, Guglielmo Pepe, imprisoned from 1802 to 1803, was a direct witness and described the inhumane living conditions in his biography. The Castle was used as a prison for opponents of the regime even during the subsequent Kingdom of Naples: an excellent name was the carbonaro Nicola Antonio Angeletti, who survived the pit and drew a detailed map of the fortress itself.

Other illustrious victims of repression and sentenced to prison at the Punta Troia Castle were Nicola Ricciardi, a painter from Syracuse, Antonio Leipnecher, the Palermitan Bartolomeo Milone, and the priest Don Pasquale Barbieri.

The Punta Troia Castle from the 19th century to today

In 1844, King Ferdinand II visited the Castle and closed the prison. With the elimination of the garrison, the fortification gradually fell into ruins, along with the neighboring ancient places of worship: the church of Sant'Anna and the small chapel dedicated to Maria SS. delle Grazie.

Meanwhile, three years earlier in 1841, the Florio family obtained the concession of the ancient tuna fisheries of Favignana and Formica.

With the abolition of the prison and the prospect of a new moment of economic prosperity, the inhabitants began to build the characteristic houses made of tuff, definitively abandoning the caves that had been their homes since the corsair incursions of centuries earlier.

Unfortunately, on the island of Marettimo this was not enough: the slow migratory flow towards abroad was inexorable and unstoppable.

The Punta Troia Castle is currently an important attraction for tourism and as a naturalistic attraction, an activity on which the few remaining inhabitants live.

Renovated in 2011, it has been transformed into a Prison Museum and a privileged Observatory of the Monk Seal settlement in the Protected Marine Area.

OPENING HOURS AND COSTS:

Monday - Wednesday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Friday - Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM / 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Ticket cost 4€.