Castello Ursino, Catania - a photo on Flickriver

Castello Ursino, Catania

            Castello Ursino is a castle in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. Built circa from 1239 to 1250, it belonged to Emperor Frederick II, King of Sicily, and was considered impregnable at the time. In 1295, during the Sicilian Vespers, the Parliament which declared deposed James II of Aragon as King of Sicily, replacing him with Frederick III, was held here. The following year it was captured by Robert of Anjou but was later again in Aragonese hands.
King Frederick III resided in the castle, as well as his successors Peter II, Louis, Frederick IV and Mary. Here the latter was kidnapped by William Raymond Moncada to avoid her marriage with Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1392). King Martin I held also his court in the castle.
After the move of the capital away from Catania and the appearance of powder weapons, the castle lost its military role and was used as prison. It is one of the few buildings in Catania to have survived the earthquake of 1693. The castle has a rectangular plan, with a large circular tower at each corner.
When the castle was first built, it was on a cliff looking out to sea, however as the result of volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes, it is now a kilometre inland. The castle's former moat too in the 17th century was filled with lava from an eruption by Mount Etna.
Today the castle houses the Catania Civico Museum, and an Art Gallery. (from wikipedia)
   

Taken in: Italia / Sicilia / Catania (show map)

Taken on: May 17, 2008

Tags:

castello

castle

Catania

Sicilia

Italia

sicily

italy

FlickrSicilia

Anticando

svevi

normanni

Federico II

museo

meseum

grandangolo

wide eye

GoldStarAward

regionalgeographicsicilia

rgscastelli « less

Sets appears in: • Sicilia • Catania more » • Memories of the past « less

Groups appears in: • Architecture and Buildings • We travel the World more » • Gold Star Awards Level 1 (1P/3C) • ANTICANDO!!!(P2/Aw3)Please,only Subject ANCIENT • Flickr Sicilia • "History & Antiquities (Post 5 - Award 3)" • The beautiful village (Only Italy) • Regional Geographic Sicilia • YourCountry • MIDDLE AGES IN EUROPE (Post1 Award2) • "IQ" - Image Quality « less

Camera: Sony DSC-H9, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, 6.6mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony DSC-H9
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Focal Length:	6.6mm
ISO:	80
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Macintosh
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