Castle of Venus (Italian: ''Castello di Venere'') is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

fortress in Erice, built around the site of an ancient sanctuary of Venus Erycina at the summit of

Monte Erice Monte Erice, or ancient Greek Mount Eryx, is a mountain of Sicily, in the province of Trapani. Location The mountain is to the east of Trapani and encompasses an area of 18.3 km2. The Lenzi River has its source on the mountain. The city ...

in western

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

History

Monte Erice has long held strategic and religious significance. A sanctuary noted by Thucydides in the 5th century BCE remained active through Carthaginian and Roman control, eventually rededicated to Venus Erycina. The Normans built the current castle in the 12th century using materials from the ancient site. It was later used as a prison before falling into disuse.

Architecture and features

The Castle of Venus displays a mix of architectural features from various historical periods. These include: * A western wing with Gothic-style mullioned windows. * A Roman bath structure located near the cliff edge. * A circular well, referred to as the Well of Venus. * Remains of a small medieval church known as Santa Maria della Neve. * Defensive walls and a tower-like structure known as the ''colombaia'' (dovecote). Access to the castle is via a stone ramp that replaced an earlier drawbridge connecting the fortress to the nearby Balio Towers.

Excavations

Archaeological excavations were conducted in the 1930s by the Cultural Heritage Office of Trapani. These investigations focused on identifying remains of the ancient sanctuary. More recent studies have found Greek pottery and burial areas, supporting the site's long-standing religious function.De Vincenzo, Salvatore (2015). "The fortification wall of Eryx: A new definition of the settlement's construction phases and topographic development in light of recent excavations." ''Analysis Archaeologica'', vol. 1, pp. 103–116
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Conservation

A restoration project funded by the Sicilian regional government was completed in 2025. The initiative included structural stabilisation and the adaptation of interior spaces for potential museum use. Additional funding was allocated to improve accessibility and visitor infrastructure.

Gallery

File:DSC 0347.NEF.jpg, West elevation File:Erice - Stefano Pannucci.jpg, Aerial view File:Erice - Castello di Venere.JPG, Entrance ramp

References

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External links

Virtual tour of the Castle of Venus
– from the Comune di Erice Castles in Sicily Buildings and structures in the Province of Trapani Erice Tourist attractions in Sicily Norman architecture in Italy 12th-century fortifications Ruins in Italy Venus (mythology) Archaeological sites in Sicily Historic sites in Italy Norman architecture in Italy