Castello Grifeo
Fourteenth-century castle of Partanna with a frescoed armoury hall, a picture gallery, cellars with a museum of peasant culture and the Museo regionale di preistoria del Belice.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The castle stands on a hill of Partanna around which the town developed. Its origins are uncertain and the nucleus may be a Norman watchtower; the present form dates from the 14th century, and the first written mention is from 1355. In 1374 King Frederick III was hosted there. It is one of the best-preserved fortresses in western Sicily, with a rectangular plan, three building blocks and an inner courtyard.
In the 17th century it became the princely residence of the Grifeo family, who held it until the end of the 19th century, when it was sold to the Adragna family. After regional protection, in 1991 it was bought by the Region, and since 2007 it has housed the Museo regionale di preistoria del Belice. Today it depends on the Parco archeologico di Selinunte, Cave di Cusa e Pantelleria.
The route includes the armoury hall (salone delle armi), with a fresco of 1777 on the battle of Mazara and Giovanni I Grifeo, a picture gallery with altarpieces from destroyed churches, including a polyptych of 1585, and the “cella della monaca” (the nun's cell). In the Sala del Trono (Throne Room) is the fresco on the Sicilian origins of the Grifeo family; the basements include cells, a grain pit and a long tunnel leading out beyond the walls. The cellars hold barrels, old presses and a museum of peasant culture, while the archaeological rooms display Neolithic and Bronze Age finds from Contrada Stretto.
Highlights
- Armoury hall with a fresco of 1777
- Throne Room with the fresco on the Sicilian origins of the Grifeo family
- Museo regionale di preistoria del Belice
- Picture gallery with altarpieces and a polyptych of 1585
- Basements with cells and tunnel
- Cellars with a museum of peasant culture
- Operated by
- Parco archeologico di Selinunte, Cave di Cusa e Pantelleria (Regione Siciliana)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €350% reduction for EU citizens aged 18 to 25. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission under 18; under 12 with an adult. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and one family member or companion. |
Free admission: Free admission on the first Sunday of the month and on special occasions.
Free admission also for EU tourist guides and interpreters, ICOM members, teachers, journalists and other categories provided for by regional regulations.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | An audio guide is available. |
