CASTELLO DI DONNAFUGATA

The Donnafugata Castle is located about 20 km from Ragusa. It was built on the old structure of a thirteenth-century tower by the Senator of the Kingdom and Baron Corrado Arezzo in the nineteenth century. The baron enlarged the initial structure, which became a real aristocratic residence. In addition, the charming baron who transformed the Castle into one of the most important centers of the Umbertine age zone of social life. The name Donnafugata derives from the Arabic "Ain-jafat" and means "Source of health". A legend tells, however, of a woman who prisoner in the Castle managed to escape. It would be Queen Bianca of Navarre who was locked up by the wicked Count Bernardo Cabrera, lord of the Modica County, in a room from which he managed to escape through the tunnels that led into the countryside surrounding the palace. Hence the dialect name "Ronnafugata", that is "woman escaped".

Opening times: from tuesday to sunday 09:00 - 13:00 / 14:30 - 19:00. closed on monday