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