The Donnafugata Castle is a sumptuous noble residence located 15 kilometers from Ragusa.
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| Donnafugata Castle |
The name of this castle probably derives from the Arabic "ayn as-jafaiat" which means source of health, referring to the presence of a source of pure water.
According to others, however, the title Donnafugata is linked to the legend of Bianca of Navarre, widow of the king of Sicily, that was imprisoned within the walls of the castle by the perfidious Bernardo Cabrera, lord of the County of Modica. The queen managed to escape through the tunnels, thus becoming the escaped woman (literally translated as 'donna fugata') for all.
Originally the fiefdom included a hunting estate, and an ancient Arab-Norman watchtower, but it was the baron of Donnafugata Corrado Arezzo de Spuches, who gave the structure its present appearance: a unique mix of sumptuous halls, elegant bedrooms and playful and original architectural details.
The castle occupies an area of about 2500 square meters and consists of 122 rooms of which only less than 30 are open to the public. The main floor of the castle is accessed via a stone staircase decorated with neoclassical statues. Among the accessible rooms is the large Hall of Coats of Arms, with walls decorated with the symbols of the most powerful families in Sicily. The Hall of Mirrors, on the other hand, houses splendid frescoes, also present in the Billiards and Music Halls.
Around the castle a wonderful park extends over more than 8 hectares. This relaxing space is dotted with centenary ficus, exotic plants and fragrant Mediterranean herbs, statues, fountains, an artificial cave, once covered with false cork stalactites, a small chapel, and a Coffee house in the shape of a Greek temple, on whose ceiling the firmament is drawn.
In his eclectic, lively and satirical taste, the baron created a white stone Labyrinth in which you can easily get lost for a few minutes.
CURIOSITIES
Over the years the castle has been used as a set for several films and television series. Among them, it is worth mentioning the historic
I Viceré and the fantasy
Tale of Tales.
Both the novel and later the film The Leopard mention Donnafugata. But the link between these literary and cinematographic masterpieces and the ancient manor is the result of a misunderstanding, born because Tomasi di Lampedusa calls "Donnafugata" the summer residence of the Salina family, the protagonist of the novel.
Instead, the novel by Tomasi di Lampedusa is set in the ancient residence that belonged to his family in Palma di Montechiaro, while the film by Luchino Visconti was shot between Palermo, Catania and Ciminna.
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