The Baroness' Castles

The Baroness' Castles

Castles of Sicily - from Palermo

From the killing of a Baroness by her abominable father
to the Tonnara, the tradition of the tuna-fish slaughter.

The history of castles is also the history of blood, spilled in many senses!

For this guided itinerary we will pick you up from your hotel or b&b with one of our vehicles: with a minimum of 3 people the vehicle is a luxury Mercedes-Benz 4x4 or a comfortable 8-seat minivan! It takes about an hour to arrive at the Carini Castle (photo above), our first castle, built by a Norman warrior in the 11th century over a more ancient Arab castle. But the castle is famous for the killing of Laura Lanza di Trabia, Baroness of Carini, together with her lover, by her father in 1563. You may still be able to spot on a wall what it is said to be the sign of her blood-stained hand… was she killed to save the family’s honour or for other reasons? You will get to know!

After a delicious lunch by the sea we will enter today’s second castle: the Castellammare del Golfo Castle. In ancient times, Castellammare was the harbor of Segesta, one of the main towns of the Elymians, a population supposedly formed by the mixing of a local people and refugees from the Trojan War. The name of Castellammare is roughly translated as Sea-Castle of the Gulf, deriving from the Medieval fortress in the harbor, built by the Arabs and then taken and modified by the Normans. Nowadays the castle hosts two interesting museums so that one can know everything about the local traditions, especially the Tonnara: an elaborate and age-old Mediterranean technique, introduced by the Arabs, for catching Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Why touring with Palermo Walks? We have been awarded the patronages of the Sicilian Parliament and of the City of Palermo, we provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee, our vehicles are checked every month, you can always talk to one of our managers. Our style is based on storytelling, our unique way of sharing with you the history and stories of people, art, culture, food, traditions. Book your tour now to enjoy the best of Sicily!

 

Schedule:

  • 10:00 Hotel or b&b pick-up by car or minivan
  • 11:00 Carini Castle (inside, and visit of Carini)
  • 13:00 Departure from Carini towards Castellammare del Golfo
  • 13:30 Lunch in Castellammare del Golfo (not included)
  • 15:00 Castellammare del Golfo Castle (inside)
  • 17:00 Departure from Castellammare del Golfo towards Palermo
  • 18:00 Hotel or b&b drop-off

  • Booking Box

    Your experience starting from €99,00
    Number of People:

  • Options

    • Internet connection: €10 per person.
    • Customisation: if you prefer a shorter or a longer tour, to add or remove some points of interest, and/or if you require different hours, please contact us.
    • For a guide speaking a language different from English or Italian, please contact us.
    • For luxury services please contact us.
    • For special needs please contact us: convertible car seats for babies and foldable wheelchairs may be rented at €15 each.
    • For a tour leader service (cheaper than the guide service, only general information is provided) or a driver service (the cheapest option, good for those who don't need information about the sites), please contact us.

  • Specifications

    • Frequency: Tuesdays-Saturdays (except Christmas Day and New Year's Day).
    • Departure: 10:00 from your hotel or b&b in Palermo's city centre. The time may slightly vary according to the total number of participants, so it will be confirmed via email; if your hotel or b&b is outside Palermo's city centre please contact us.
    • Duration: 8 hours.
    • Number of participants: 1-8, for more people please contact us.
    • Type of tour: open (people from different groups may join in), though limited to 8 people in total; for a private tour please contact us.
    • Location: Marineo - province of Palermo.
    • Modality: by car or minivan.
    • Dress code: none.
    • Contribution: 1 person €199, 2 people €149 per person, 3-5 people €119 per person, 6-8 people €99 per person.
    • What is included: hotel or b&b pick-up and drop-off by car or minivan, guide speaking English and Italian.
    • Entry tickets: not included.
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