Ериче, Италија
The Norman Castle in Erice is still known as the Castle of Venus because history associates it with the goddess of fertility, revered by the Hellenes, who inhabited this part of Western Sicily long before the Romans. According to legend, this is also where Eryx was buried after he died in a duel against Hercules.
In the 12th century, the Normans used the stones from the existing Temple of Venus to build a castle, which was renovated in the 19th century after a long period of neglect by Count Agostino Pepoli. He renovated the pentagonal tower, which had been destroyed in 1400, and created the beautiful English-style gardens open to the public. The castle becomes a symbol of the city.
