We have talked about Mount Pellegrino in our previous article about the legend and the celebration of Santa Rosalia (read the article here), on the same mountain, overseeing the whole city, Castello Utveggio arouses the curiosity of many tourists. I have personally been asked many times about “the castle on Mount Pellegrino”, and with regret I have explained several times that it is not possible to visit it, but apparently, things might change soon!
Reopening plans
Castello Utveggio is an integral part of Palermo’s history and will soon be serving the city and the entire Sicily.
“The works at Castello Utveggio in Palermo are finally nearing completion. It is now time to start thinking about the best way to enhance and return it to the city,” says Renato Schifani, the President of the Sicilian Region, who conducted a new inspection on Monte Pellegrino yesterday to assess the progress of the renovation and energy efficiency works.
“The last time I was here, at the end of March,” continues the governor, “I made a commitment to personally monitor the adherence to the delivery schedule, as significant delays were unfortunately noted. And so I did: we are just a few months away from making the structure available once again.
In the coming days, we will convene a service conference to define in detail the remaining works to be carried out in order to make this prestigious site accessible. It is an integral part of Palermo’s history and must serve the city and the entire Sicily as an international attraction hub.”
Historical Insight
Castello Utveggio, located on Monte Pellegrino, stands as a testament to the rich history of Palermo.Â
The building never had a military function. In fact, construction of the building began in 1928, was completed in 1933 and inaugurated the following year. The design was by architect Giovan Battista Santangelo, a professor at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Palermo, who executed it at the behest of Michele Utveggio.
During the Second World War, the castle was the focus of a number of unsuccessful projects: first it was used as a luxury hotel (trying to emulate the nearby Villa Igea Hotel) and then an attempt was made to turn the castle into a casino, a project that was never completed and that, with the start of the war saw the use of the area by Italian troops initially, and by Allied troops later, decreed the final closure of the facility, which remained abandoned and vandalised for many years.
Despite its state of disrepair, its significance in Palermo’s history was not forgotten. The ongoing restoration and energy efficiency work, overseen by the Sicilian Regional Government, aims to revive this remarkable fortress and make it accessible to both locals and international visitors.
Once reopened, Castello Utveggio will serve as a cultural and historical landmark, providing insight into Palermo’s past while offering panoramic views of the city and its breathtaking surroundings. It will be a place where history and beauty converge, showcasing the rich heritage of Sicily to the world.
Conclusion
Whether ‘soon’ means in the next few years or not, we will be glad and ready to visit it together!
Credit to: Salvatori Ferreri (picture).Â
Source for the article:Â
https://www.palermotoday.it/cronaca/castello-utveggio-riapertura-schifani.html
