Courtyard

The Courtyard

The courtyard, or "baglio", was the center and heart of the Ursino Castle. In the most ancient era, the troops gathered inside and as the chronicle of Brother Atanasio of Aci tells us, the first Aragonese sovereigns held justice. Under the current lava pavement there are excavations that date back to more or less ancient times; it is possible that they served as a water supply cistern, essential in the event of a siege. Around this courtyard there are some architectural fragments, lava stone sepulchral arks and inscriptions. On the sides of the central door, which leads to the hall of the San Giorgio Chapel, in Renaissance style, you can observe the engravings made in the century XVII and XVIII by the prisoners of the Castle who enjoyed a few hours of freedom. The engravings depict towers, sailing ships, while at the top you can read some verses, written in Sicilian dialect, which describe the resignation and melancholy of the prisoners.

(Taken from G. Libertini, Il Castello Ursino e le raccolte artistiche comunali di Catania, 1937)

Pieces of the hall