Even if it is a small city, the Sicilian town Butera, which is located in the province of Caltanissetta, boasts the second largest territory in Sicily after Palermo. There are two beautiful castles in Butera: the first is located in the city centre and is an Arab-Norman castle; the second one is located on the sea, in Marina di Butera. There is a huge amount of stories and legends about these castles.
Let’s start with the first one. The castle of Butera dates back to the 11th century and has gone through several restorations over the years. It was used as a prison until around the 1970s; in recent years, the castle has housed the exhibition of paintings and local artefacts, instead.

The castle of Falconara is another great attraction in Butera, it is located in the seaside area of the city, overlooking the sea. Over the years many restaurants have been opened nearby the castle.

Going back to Butera, Sicanian settlements, which date back to the Middle Bronze Age (1400-1000 BC) have been discovered. The archaeologists also brought to light a necropolis made of cubiform stone slabs, which was used as a cemetery and as a place of worship by prehistoric communities.

One of the main traditions of Butera is the feast of Saint Rocco, which always takes place in the summer, on the 16th of August. Saint Rocco is the Patron of Butera and he is venerated by most of the citizens and by many pious people.
