This castle is by far my favorite place in the world (so far!) and I might be biased because my family is from this small town, but this castle is a hidden gem. If you are traveling to Sicily, Palermo will likely be one of your stops. If you are willing to drive into a smaller town, you have to visit Carini and more specifically, this castle. It's breath-taking... every step leading to this castle and within in is spectacular and rich in culture. If you have time, do some research before visiting on the background of this castle. Locals and tour guides can tell you about it, but there are so many amazing details and legends that it's worth Googling in advance. The story is that the married Baronessa Di Carini, Laura Lanza, was involved in a love affair with a commoner and her father, the king, once getting word of this, killed her. During her death, she touched the blood on her side and grabbed onto the wall with her bloodied hand in her last effort to cry for help. Legends say that this handprint could not be washed off by the maids and was still visible in Laura's room until the 1950s. The room then collapsed, but you can see artifacts from that time period on your tour. If you are into history, this should be on your list of attractions to visit in Sicily. Locals still hold processions and parades for the Baronessa. If that's all too grim for you, no worries. The castle itself is a work of art. If you are a resident of Carini, you'll get a discounted rate for entry. For the rest of us, entry to the castle is a bit more (check their website) but definitely worth it. Every room is magnificent and the windows will lead you to amazing views of the city. Photographers rejoice. You can also snap pictures of the old paintings which are said to go back to the 1400s and are still in tact. My suggestion is to visit during the morning hours so you can see the rooms in natural light. If that isn't enough for you, they have a built in bar and lounge in the building attached (so it's technically a bar inside of castle!). If you're not sure where to go, just follow the cobble stones out front and you will usually see a swarm of vespas parked outside as this is a local hotspot. If the bar scene isn't for you, there is a restaurant down the block that offers stunning views of the city as well as the water and the famous Isola Delle Femmine. There's also a gelateria located down the steps from the castle's bar if you just need a sweet treat. If you do come to visit this castle, let me know how your experience is. I hope you love it as much as I do! read more

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