Ventimiglia Tower

It is the most important historic-architectural building in Montelepre.

Its construction is linked to the birth of the "Munchilebbi" feud. It was built between 1433 and 1435 by Archbishop of Mon-reale, Giovanni Ventimiglia, on the concession of king Alfonso V D'Aragona.

The place where the tower rises, the top of a hill, was chosen to control the main ways of communication and dominate the fief that was being formed. The tower is in Norman style and, by its typology, is assimilated to the typical French "donjon roman".

The structure is in the shape of a parallelepiped, 23 meters high and surmounted by a merlot terrace. It was accessed to the tower by the connection of a stone staircase, originally supported by three arches, and a drawbridge.

The western prospect is characterized by: two double windows and a trifora and a mechanical clock designed by Raffaele Bellacera in the eighteenth century. The tower develops on three levels.

The first, corresponding to the ground floor, was destined for warehouses that hosted granaries, cellars, wash-rooms, kitchens, dispensers and a stable. The second floor hosted the noble floor divided into two large cruise cruise lounges. In two occasions you can see two coats of arms that of Ventimiglia and that of the Archdiocese of Monreale.

The third level was for the private rooms of the arch-bishop. Architectural detail is a niche that was destined for the private worship of Ventimiglia. The most popular place for tourists is the merlot terrace from which you can admire the panorama of the beautiful Gulf of Castellammare.

The building now houses the collection of archaeological finds, mostly from the necropolis "Manico di Quarara" and partly from the town of Monte D'Oro.