Description of the attraction
Castello Schiso Castle is a 16th century fortress located on Cape Schiso in Giardini Naxos, Sicily. The first castle on this site, which offers a wonderful view of the bay of Naxos, was built in the 13-14 centuries. Later, in the 16th century, it was rebuilt - an observation tower was added to it to patrol the coast and warn local residents in advance about the approach of Berber pirates, who in those years often ravaged the surrounding villages.
Castello Schiso stands on a small hill formed by volcanic rock. Its name comes from the Arabic word "al-kuzus", which means bust or chest. Edrisi, the geographer of Roger II, in 1154 described Al Qusus as a commercial port that exported agricultural products and was a staging post on the route from Messina to Catania. Two cylindrical towers have survived from the medieval castle to this day, which suggests that at that time it was fortified by four towers connected by a high massive wall. As mentioned above, a guard tower was added in the 16th century, as well as a residential complex, now visible from the Naxos embankment, and a device for processing sugar cane that was grown in the vicinity. Finally, in the 19th century, the building underwent another significant reconstruction: graceful balconies were added that stretch along the facade.
The first owner of the castle in the 16th century was Don Cesare Statella, a noble citizen from Catania. Then among the owners of Castello Schiso were members of the aristocratic De Spuches family, the Marquises of Schiso and Gaggi, a wealthy native of Messina Giovanni Conti, Lombardo Alonso, and at the beginning of the 20th century he passed to the Paladino family, who still own it to this day.
