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This fourteenth century castle is flanked by palm groves and stands on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea. Decorated throughout with antique furniture and hunting trophies, the castle is ideal for those who love the sea, wide horizons and the culture of ancient Sicily. The castle private and although it can accommodate up to 30 people, you will be the only residents.
The castle has its own private beach with a boathouse housing boats including a rib (which the owner will happily rent out for sea excursions) and other water sports equipment. Day excursions can be organized.
The main part of the castle consists of 7 drawing rooms, a dining room, scullery, kitchen and laundry and 17 double bedrooms all with private bathrooms. The castle comes equipped with staff who will clean the rooms daily and an extremely good cook who will serve a variety of Sicilian specialities including fresh fish.
The castle is developed in 4 levels: from the ground level to the beach level. At the ground level there is the entrance, the large stairs that lead you down to the second level and the most restored wing of the castle with seven double bedrooms - all of them with private bathroom, a huge living room with windows that give you the view of the Mediterranean sea and a kitchen. At the second level there are six living rooms, the dining room, the kitchen, the room for the housemaid, three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a huge terrace along the perimeter of the castle where you can have your daily sun-bath. There is also a suite with a private full bathroom. At the third level there are seven bedrooms. The last level - the fourth one, is the beach level. Here there is a bathroom and a shower, the garden- terrace and the entrance to the beach.
The castle is strategically located in the south coast of Sicily. From here you can reach many culturally interesting sites like Agrigento with its valley of Greek temples (45 kilometers away) or Piazza Armerina where is located the ancient roman villa with his splendid mosaics (50 kilometers) or Caltagirone (55 kilometers) with his traditional majolicas and ceramic pots. The nearest shopping centre is the village of Licata (11 kilometers away)
The Castle is situated on the S.S. (state highway) 115 at Km 245, is 100 Kms distant from Catania Airport and 200 Kms from Palermo Airport and is served by its own railway station.
History
The 21 mt. Tower dates back to the 12. century, in 1455 the castle chapel is consacrated.
This most harmonious and picturesque building was built in different epochs. The most ancient part is the large square tower built in the 14th century, used by the previous owners to breed falcons for hawking.
We do not know exactly when the tower was built, but the historical data suggests that Ugone di Santapau, descendant of the noble family Adamara, was given it by King Martino d'Aragona by decreee on the 18th october 1392, as a recompense for his support against adversary factions.
In 1540 Ambrogio di Santapau Branciforte, became the owner, and he was given the title of Prince of Butera. After several successions, about the beginning of 1800 the Castle came to count Wilding, a german officer, as a dowry of his wife, Caterina Branciforte, daughter of the last Prince of Butera. At his death, his brother Ernesto inherited the Castle: but he, during the 1848 risings decided to return to his native land and sold the castle to baron Antonio Chiaramonte Bordonaro, who was an ancestor of the present owner, Baron Roberto Chiaramonte Bordonaro.
Its historical background and the presence of the many hunting trophies shot by the present owner of the Castle and his father, contribute to give the place its unique atmosphere.
Features
Private parking
Private access to the beach
Seventeen double bedrooms
Six living rooms
One dining room
Several fireplaces
Changing room
Private garden - solarium
Huge panoramic terrace
Maid Service
Private cook
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