About Sicily

Once Upon a Time… The Castle of Gresti or Pietratagliata in Aidone

Nestled in this magical place, in the province of Enna, one can glimpse a very peculiar rocky spur upon which stands the castle of Gresti or Pietratagliata.

A Breathtaking Sight

The visual impact, especially for those who choose to reach it on foot rather than comfortably by car, is truly breathtaking. The castle stands on a perfectly cut, sheer cliff, surrounded by a valley with typically Sicilian colors.

The Mystery of Its Inhabitants

Although the castle is almost completely destroyed, imagination takes over and one wonders who lived here? Why? How? We would like to have these answers, but they matter little because the place is suspended in the time and space of “once upon a time…” and there is no castle without its stories, and the Castle of Pietratagliata has its own.

The Legend of the Inscription

The inscription that was placed at the top of the castle, its solitary position made it the subject of a treasure hunt. The knight who, at a gallop, managed to read and interpret the inscription would have found an important treasure. The plaque no longer exists today, perhaps it was dragged down during the collapse of the northern facade, but it is mentioned in local history texts.

From Fantasy to History

Indeed, the castle dates back to the 14th century, likely from the Arab-Norman period, and its name, Pietratagliata, comes from the enormous quartz sandstone cliff that cuts through the valley, beneath which lies the district of Gresti, from which it also derives its second name. Once, there was also the river Gornalunga flowing abundantly, so much so that it was navigable. Today, the river has almost dried up.

Strategic Importance

The seemingly isolated position likely reflected a specific strategy. It is believed that the castle served as a sort of outpost in the center of a control system for a vast area that extended from the eastern coast, Catania, Syracuse, Lentini, Naxos, towards the center of Sicily. The castle was probably part of a system of similar structures that had the function of sending optical signals, anciently defined as “fani” or fires, which allowed for the rapid transmission of a signal even over long distances.