Venere Castle

Erice, Italy

Castello di Venere ('Venus Castle'), dating from the Norman period, was built on top of the ancient Temple of Venus, where Venus Ericina was worshipped. According to legend, the temple was founded by Aeneas. It was well known throughout the Mediterranean area in the ancient age, and an important cult was celebrated in it.

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Address

Piazza San Giovanni 45, Erice, Italy
See all sites in Erice

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

More Information

travelguide.michelin.com

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Pepoli Castle (0,1 km)
Erice Cathedral (0,7 km)
San Giuliano Church (0,3 km)
Trapani Cathedral (7,7 km)
San Giovanni Church (0,3 km)
Madonna of Trapani (4,8 km)
Agostino Pepoli Regional Museum (4,7 km)


Segesta Temple (23,5 km)
Segesta Greek Theatre (24,4 km)
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta (33,3 km)
Ligny Tower (8,5 km)
Motya (21,6 km)
Selinunte (54,6 km)
Castle of the Counts of Modica (33,4 km)
Salemi Castle (30,3 km)
Lilibeo (29,8 km)

User Reviews

Brian Donhauser (3 months ago)
Erice is a historic town at the top of Mt Erice. Includes stunning, 360 views of the Mediterranean and Province of Trapani, churches, and historic castles and ruins. This castle cost 6EUR to get in. It was worth it to look around and see the views.
Chloe Allen (4 months ago)
We didn’t get to go inside but the views were breathtaking. It’s good to note that while you can drive or take the cable car, the hike up the mountain from Trapani is definitely worth doing if you have a good pair of shoes!
Antje S. (4 months ago)
Didn't go inside thus cannot really judge it, but the view from there is lovely. However there are also many other spots where you can enjoy the view.
David Baker (4 months ago)
Really lovely old town on top of a mountain. Several museums, shops and restaurants. The cable car ride is a must!
Yannis Koutiolas (5 months ago)
You probably get the best view from here. Not necessarily worth to go inside.
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Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Historic Site of the week

Palazzo Colonna

The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

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