Calascibetta, the Baglio with a view of the umbrella pine

 Wandering around the Sicilian hinterland, it is not difficult to see large rural homes characterized by a construction closed to the outside and with all openings facing the courtyard.

Those have noble origins and this can be seen from the presence of a part of the building for residential purposes on a high floor in which the owner once pleasantly stayed with his family during the Sicilian summer months.

The prestige at the time was highlighted by the richness of the furniture, while the lower floors were intended for farmers and warehouses.

The perimeter walls, without openings, had a defensive function, while a large entrance door, the only passage to and from the outside, also allowed carriages and transport wagons to access the courtyard.
Our Baglio is also built in stone masonry in situ with common mortar with the roof made with a wooden load-bearing structure, with “scissors” trusses, exposed beams and slats.

But before delving into the details of this ancient and splendid property, a pinch of history and geography to fully understand it.

We are in Calascibetta, which, translating the two Arabic terms that make up the name, literally means castle on the summit, and precisely on Mount Xibet, on the border of the Val di Noto, in the heart of Sicily.

One of the characteristics of this place is its strategic position, equidistant from the three seas that bathe the island and the uniqueness of this city is also found in its ancient external road system, partly still preserved today, made up of twelve royal Trazzere ( the term Trazzera means straight road) which started from the center of the city or its offshoots and were distributed radially, connecting it mainly with the three seas surrounding Sicily.

Calascibetta boasts a notable archaeological, artistic and historical heritage which unfortunately is known to few, the finds discovered are scattered in various Sicilian museums, but the characteristic that distinguishes it is given by the presence of the “grotto” urban fabric, a rock city which is the built one is subsequently superimposed, hiding the first one from view. In fact, there are numerous caves and caverns, sometimes communicating with each other, dug into the rock, homes of a troglodyte civilization.

Different peoples have succeeded one another here, but one can understand the standard of living of the past from the presence of a Giudecca anciently built outside the town centre, with a fervent Jewish community dedicated to trade, usury and craftsmanship.

In this wonderful and important historical context is the Baglio or Bagghiu, called in Sicilian, which we propose today, a fortified farm, a typical expression of Sicilian feudalism.

This architectural complex is set in a rural context now surrounded by uncultivated land but which in ancient times saw a panorama full of date palms, pines and cypresses while the voices of men and animal sounds resonated in the courtyards and courtyards.

Let’s enter the part of the property covered by the proposal by crossing the gate adorned with two stone pillars. We walk along the walls and around the corner, the main facade appears. On the ground floor we rediscover the ancient cellars and then access, passing through the internal courtyard, the stairs that take us to the first floor. The interior takes us back to the present day, the house has in fact been recovered by creating a large living area on the floor with kitchen on one side and living room on the other, a bedroom and bathroom while the spiral staircase placed in front of the The entrance leads us into the attic, a large open space with a second bathroom.

Here, where the Sicilian nobles produced large quantities of cereals for the Spanish, why not revive these ancient and fascinating properties? Why not go back to enjoy these boundless horizons and breathtaking views?

After the visit your imagination will begin to want to reuse it as an agritourism business, or as an accommodation facility or simply use it for residential purposes.

The fact remains undeniable that you won’t want to miss a sunset sitting under the pine tree enjoying the pine nuts produced in your Baglio.