Castello di Venere (Castle of Venus)
The Normans who conquered Sicily in the 12th century built a massive mountaintop castle, a majestic show of might, on the site of an ancient temple to Venus, goddess of love. Medieval towers and the ruins of walls still surround the compound, and through defensive slits and other openings you can look out over the plains of Trapani and the Egadi Islands, showing off the site’s defensive advantage. Still visible are the foundations of the temple and precincts that housed a cult whose young female devotees serviced male worshippers sexually. This was deemed such an honorable profession that when the women ended their duties at age 21, they were considered especially desirable brides.
The Normans who conquered Sicily in the 12th century built a massive mountaintop castle, a majestic show of might, on the site of an ancient temple to Venus, goddess of love. Medieval towers and the ruins of walls still surround the compound, and through defensive slits and other openings you can look out over the plains of Trapani and the Egadi Islands, showing off the site’s defensive advantage. Still visible are the foundations of the temple and precincts that housed a cult whose young female devotees serviced male worshippers sexually. This was deemed such an honorable profession that when the women ended their duties at age 21, they were considered especially desirable brides.
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