[fr] 
[es]Portopalo's castle
| Type | Aerial view | Country | Date | Status | Rating | |
 Private building | Here ! |  Italy | 2006-10-09 | Endangered | **** |
|
Portopalo di Capo Passero, South-East Sicily. Following Alessandra advice, we discover this beautiful abandoned residence overlooking the sea from a magnificent cliff.
The castle on the cliff - Click to enlarge!
A Bit Of History
The castle was built by Mr Bruno. The Bruno's family owned the tuna cannery close to the castle (see photo below).
Tuna was the main source of wealth for the region. Tuna was fished in the traditional way, "à la mattanza".
In the village nearby, there was also a church from the XVIIth century and a school, which are still standing. The population was about 50 inhabitants, most of whom worked at the cannery.
The abandoned tuna cannery- Click to enlarge!
Greatness and decadence
In 1974, Mr Tafuri acquires the castle. He is pharmacist at Pachino, the next village. He plans to turn the residence into a luxurious hotel and restaurant.
Business is working pretty well. The Tafuri's castle thrives. Luxurious carpets, expensive paintings, precious armors. Tourism is growing fast. During the summer the region is overcrowded. Even in winter, the crowd does not decrease.
Mr Tafuri dies in 1990. Then a story that can be found on many pages of this website happens again: conflict between heiress, nobody to pay the caretaker, the guard... The castle is quickly looted and emptied, then squatted and vandalized...
Since 1998 the castle is for sale but has not found an investor yet...
Old postcard - Click to enlarge!
HELLO,
Did Mr. Michael Schumacher - buy the Castle Tafuri as rumored?
Ciao,
Gary
According to Corriere della Sera, the formula one pilot - Michael Schumacher - might buy Castle Tafuri located nearby Portopalo in the Syracuse province of Sicily. The deal should be reached soon, apparently because Corinne - Schumacher's wife - is rumored to have totally fallen in love for Sicily during a trip there.
I asked for information related with the castle, I have also some pictures:
This is what I received:
Egregio Sig. Aparicio,
The castle is completely to restructure.
The price of the Castello is Euro 5.000.000,00
Best Regards
Ducezio Immobiliare
I was there last week ... and I knew nothing of it. But I stopped the car and went inside ... as the castle was too beauty from the outside and too strange from the inside. All the walls covered by porno wordings ... everything totally destroyed and mostly rusty, but a wonderful view from the balcony like this www.paolofederici.it/photogallery/DSC02248.JPG or this www.paolofederici.it/photogallery/DSC02250.JPG and this too www.paolofederici.it/photogallery/Marispica%20474.jpg
:-)
Paolo
In a comment to the article I linked below, someone retold the history of this magnificent place, and urges local politicians to do something about it falling to pieces.
Here's that link:
www.pachinoglobale.net
Hi!
I don't speak Italian and I don't read it very well, but apparently, something has happened at the Castello in April, some sort of satanic rituals.
Here's the link I found today:
www.pachinoglobale.net
I know this castle near Portopalo since I was a little girl and I thik it's one of the most beautiful and fascinating places of the world I have ever seen!
I hope it will be again like it was many years ago!
I can't believe it! It is such a nice castle and such a wonderful place! It is a pity, that that nice building is so shabby...
Thanks for the amazing photos!
I would also very much appreciate any additional information on this Castle.
I would like to know who to contact for more infor mation on the castle