Sperlinga — partner village

The castle carved into the rock

Sperlinga is one of the most distinctive villages of inland Sicily. Its main monument is the Castle of Sperlinga, a medieval fortification partly carved into the rock — a rare example of a rock-hewn castle in the Sicilian panorama. The halls, the stairs and the paths are all cut directly into the rock mass.

The motto inscribed at the castle entrance — “Quod Siculis placuit sola Sperlinga negavit” — recalls that Sperlinga was the only Sicilian town not to join the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, hosting an Angevin garrison while the rest of the island was in revolt.

The partner village

Sperlinga is a DMO partner of the Nicosian territory and the second stage of the 24 Barons Trail. The collaboration between the two Municipalities aims to:

• offer the visitor an integrated territorial experience — Nicosia Cathedral + Sperlinga rock-cut castle;
• create shared tourism itineraries;
• nominate the entire district as an inland Sicily destination.

The Palatine Chapel

The castle includes a small Palatine Chapel. Public opening follows the calendar announced by the Sperlinga Municipality.

How to arrive

• From Nicosia by car: SS120 heading west, ~15 minutes.
• On foot: stage of the 24 Barons Trail.
• Public transport: limited; a car is recommended.

To visit

• Rock-cut castle: open to the public, ticket at the Sperlinga municipal ticket office.
• Historic centre: small, walkable in 1-2 hours.
• Combine with: Nicosia (cathedral, castle, palaces) and Cerami (third stage of the Trail).

See together

• Cerami — third stage of the 24 Barons Trail.
• Castle of Nicosia — comparison with another rock-cut castle in the territory.