Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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Ursino
Castle: A Sicilian Stronghold through the Ages
Catania, Sicily
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Currency Converter
Nestled
on a sea-facing cliff in Catania, Sicily, Ursino Castle stands as
proof of enduring strength.
Built in the 13th century by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II,
this imposing fortress initially served as a defensive stronghold for the
Kingdom of Sicily.
Over the centuries, its role evolved from a royal residence
to a penitentiary, operating until 1986.
Today, visitors can explore the
castle and witness the remnants of its past as a prison,
including hundreds of names, dates, and symbols etched into the walls.
Despite
the devastating earthquake of 1693 that ravaged Catania, Ursino Castle remained
standing.
Castles were built to last.
Ursino Castle
The Ursino Castle is one of the most important and fascinating
monuments in the city of Catania, Sicily.
It was a originally located on a rocky
promontory that extended into the sea, and served as a crucial control point for
maritime routes.
However, during the massive earthquake of
1693, the surrounding area was reclaimed by Mt Etna lava, and the building is
now landlocked.
Ursino Castle is now a Civic Museum
Power during the lifetime of this castle
changed hands over and again, and during the time of a serf rebellion called The
Sicilian Vespers, this castle was the seat of the Sicilian Parliament.
Coming here to visit the castle, the
entranceway inspired dreams of life in a castle, with Kings, Queens, Knights,
intrigue and people scurrying from room to room to serve the Royalty.
This castle was the real
deal.
I expected to see Knight's
armor, fashions of the Queens at the time, some castle-type furniture, stories
of trickery and manipulation with some physicality of the fantasy that the
entrance hall promised.
Alas... there was nothing
of the sort.
Today this castle is a
civic museum showing a collection of items from ancient Greece, Rome, and
medieval Sicily. After visiting
The National Archeological Museum in Naples, Italy, this display was
decidedly tepid.
I saw it as a lost
opportunity for Ursino Castle.
Our tickets to enter the Castle
The price to visit the Castle was $9Euro per
person, saving $2Euros each utilizing our senior discount.
The architecture is
captivating with pointed arches, intricate detailing, thick walls, crenellated
towers, and moats.
At the center of the castle is a large courtyard, once used for military
maneuvers and ceremonies.
Ribbed vault
This is called a ribbed vault, known for its
structural strength.
Popular in medieval architecture, these
ribbed vaults emerged as a significant architectural innovation at the time.
Because of this modernization technique, it
was possible to create
larger and more open interior spaces, such as cathedrals and churches.
You are probably familiar with the iconic
Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris which also features stunning
ribbed vaults with intricate tracery.
Roman or Greek column capital
Part of a larger building piece, this capital
is made of white marble, a common material used in ancient
architecture.
There is a scene with multiple figures,
but it's difficult to determine the exact subject.
Well-preserved, there are still some signs of wear and tear, such as a crack in the base.
The sarcophagus of Costanza d'Aragona
Inside this sarcophagus it is believed to be the remains of Costanza d'Aragona, a queen of Sicily
during the 13th century. It is also made of white marble.
In those days of Kings and Queens, marriage
was a political and business strategy between countries and families. These
marriages secured treaties and fortunes.
Costanza married King
Frederick II in 1237, solidifying the alliance between Sicily and the
Holy Roman
Empire, and she became Queen of Sicily.
She was able to play a
significant role in the political and cultural life of the kingdom, which
brought her more status and fame.
However, her husband
Frederick II, clashed with Pope Innocent IV, leading to
a conflict that had far-reaching consequences for Sicily.
Sometimes a girl just can't
win.
White marble statue of Hercules
Hercules is often portrayed as a muscular and powerful,
and was one of the most famous and
powerful heroes in both Greek and Roman mythology. He was known for his incredible
strength, courage, and completion of twelve seemingly impossible labors.
Hercules was the son of the god Zeus and a
mortal woman.
His extraordinary strength was a gift from Zeus.
High positioned windows of the castle
These high positioned windows had the primary
function of providing natural light to the interior spaces of the castle. Some of these
windows also served as a
means of ventilation.
Defensive considerations were also kept in
mind, giving a clear view of attackers below and the surrounding area. These
could give excellent positions for archers or crossbowmen to defend the castle
and serve as observation posts... but I'd like to know how they got up there,
(and stayed there) in this circumstance.
It's not like they had step ladders at the
time...?
Gold leafed Triptych
This is the Annunciation Scene of Holy Mary
with the Child, St. Lucy and St. John.
The author is an unknown Sicilian painter
from the beginning of the 15th century.
Another sarcophagus
This white marble
Roman
tombstone shows a young woman and comes from the 2nd century AD.
The sasrcophagus is about 2 meters long and
is well-preserved.
Aphrodite
The Greek goddess of love, beauty and
fertility, Aphrodite is one of the most
iconic figures in Greek mythology.
Known as Venus in Roman mythology, she is often depicted as a stunningly beautiful
woman, and was associated with passion, desire, and all things sensual.
The Sicilian Vespers
This painting is a very important work by
Michele Rapisardi.
It represents the scene in which a French soldier offends
a Sicilian woman, thus causing a popular revenge, the people's revolt known as
the Sicilian Vespers.
This revolt brought down the French dynasty
dominating Sicily at that time.
A woman faints, a man fights with a French
soldier, people huddle looking for security.
Because of increased taxes by the Angevin
king along with abuse by French soldiers, anyone
who looked or sounded French was killed by the Sicilians.
The result of the
Sicilian Vespers was not self-rule, but the division of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Giving Sicily some relative independence
forged a Sicilian national identity, distinct from their ethnic heritage, or the
lands from which their rulers came.
Sicilians still maintain that fierce identity
even today.
Staircase of the Roman Theatre of Catania
This is a painting of the staircase of the
Roman Theatre of Catania, which is a
significant archaeological site in Sicily, Italy.
Built in the 2nd century AD, it was used for theatrical performances and public events,
accommodating around 7,000 spectators!
It had a semicircular auditorium, a stage, and an
orchestra pit, and being well-preserved, It is a popular tourist attraction
today.
Dedication to the Genius of the city of Catania
This is a tombstone found in the theatre of
Catania and its inscription is a dedication to the "Genius of the splendid city of Catania".
It seems that the deceased person is named Virnantibus Saiculis.
Akaisha in one of the many doorways of the
castle
The Civic Museum of Catania has
archaeological finds, works of art,
and testimonies of the city's history.
They also host temporary exhibitions in the
atmosphere of this beautiful medieval fortress.
__________
Castle Ursino
Piazza Federico di
Svevia
95121 Catania, Italy
Open: Daily from 10 am to 5.50 pm
Phone: +39 09
5345 830
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