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Castello Maniace is no ordinary edifice from Syracuse. Both a castle and a citadel, it was the faithful ally of important figures who resided here. In 1038 George Maniakes ordered the construction of what was going to become home of King Peter III of Aragon and his family in 1288 and subsequently residence of various Sicilian queens between 1305 and 1536. This only happened after the rebuilding from1232-1240 by Riccardo da Lentini, architect of King Frederick II.

The 15th century brought the transformation of the construction into a prison, followed by the inclusion in the fortification which was meant to protect the harbor and overall, the city.

Initially, attention heads towards a large room marked by 25 square spans surrounding a centre span that is quite unique due to the anomalous supports of three columns. Irregular fireplaces show spontaneously, announcing the small private spaces behind the corner towers. The staircase showcases a complex design. The northern tower gets the spotlight as it displays a historiography problem that can be unveiled if one takes a leap into the world of the Mediterranean Gothic.

The Gothic architecture rules over the construction, entertaining its viewers with cross vaults with groins. The Gothic features are easy to recognize while streaming through the mysterious edifice. The mystery of the Maniace Castle concentrates on the large columnar room, more specifically on the principles that were used for the construction.

The structure raised multiple question marks that subsequently were included in an analysis focused on the static and dynamic behavior of the 8 century old castle. Key periods that suffered documentation were the 15th, the 16th and the 17th centuries.
Until World War II the castle was subject to military use. This particular aspect brought about severe alteration of the structure which adds up to the environmental damage of which earthquakes receive the place on top. Even under these circumstances, the interior provides samples of textures, stone elements, bricks and other construction materials.

It’s important for researchers to have access to necessary resources for an archaeological investigation, but when talking about a 13th century building, access becomes an issue. Hard work finally pays off by revealing stories and characters that made it possible for the contemporary viewers to appreciate this historic testimonial and for the scholars to investigate it.