Description of the attraction
The colossal Castello Colombaya, also known as Castello di Mare and Torre Peliade, sits on a tiny island right in front of the port of Trapani. It is one of the finest examples of military architecture in Sicily. And if the origin of the city itself is shrouded in legends and secrets, the same can be said about this castle, which has become one of the main attractions of Trapani. Many stories and legends have been written about its construction, starting from the times of antiquity, but in reality there is not a single reliable document confirming at least some version.
Some legends associate the construction of Castello Colombaya with the exiles from Troy who arrived in Trapani after the fall of their city in the 13th century BC. Other legends attribute its construction to the time of the First Punic War (mid-3rd century BC). In 249 BC. off the coast of Trapani, a major naval battle broke out, in which the Romans were defeated by the Carthaginians. Two years later, the Roman consul Fabio Buteone attacked the island of Colombaya and conquered it in one night, killing all the invaders. After that, the castle fell into disrepair and became a nesting place for pigeons (“colomba” in Italian), hence its modern name. Probably, at that time, it was the place of worship of the pagan worship of the goddess Venus, whose sacred animal is also considered to be a dove.
The Arabs used Castello Colombaya as a lighthouse. During the Middle Ages, the building was restored and acquired its current shape of an octagonal tower. In the 15th century, it was expanded and served as a fortification during the reign of Charles V. The castle underwent the last major transformations in the 17th century by order of Don Claudio La Moraldo. The Bourbons turned it into a prison that held Sicilian patriots who took part in popular uprisings. Castello Colombaya performed this function until 1965, and then was abandoned. Restoration work was carried out here only in the 1980s.
Now the castle is 32 meters high with windows and a walled-up balcony, as well as a dilapidated staircase, is closed to the public. There is a small pier directly in front of it. The path behind the main building opens onto a courtyard containing two chapels that were used as warehouses during World War II. Here you can also see the second berth, which is now in disrepair.
