Publication Date
409-388 / 1019-998 in the second half of the twelfth century
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;it;Mon01;8;ar
Library Location
Palermo, Italy
Date
409-388 / 1019-998 in the second half of the twelfth century
Notes
The original building structure is similar to buildings in North Africa, and is called Rabat; It is approximately square in shape (in this case it has a protrusion on one side), and its legs have a triangular base, and there are rooms distributed along all its sides. The name Favara was given by the Arabs to the spring of fresh water flowing from the foot of the mountain, which feeds the artificial lake around the building from its three sides: the southern, eastern, and western. The palace can be entered from the northeastern side, which is the best side, and it is still intact. It is believed that the castle was built between the years 388-409/998-1019 by order of Prince Jaafar during his reign. The new Norman rulers were impressed, so they preserved its basic characteristics, with the introduction of some modifications, such as erecting a small church in place of the prince’s private mosque. The Norman palace now consisted of two floors, built on a hall called the large throne room, which took the shape of the letter “L” and was equipped with a portico covered with interlocking arches. This palace was used to hold parties, just as the Aziza building and the dome were used. The basin of this lake was deep, allowing small boats to sail in it and fish. The few remaining evidence that the building dates back to the Arab era are the general plan of the building, the artificial lake and the red building materials found in it.
Sample Text
Pier Paolo Racioppi “Alfafara Castle in Mare Dolce” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;it;Mon01;8;ar
