Fortino di Mazzallakkar

The Fortino di Mazzallakkar is a ruined Arab fort in Sambuca di Sicilia, Sicily. It is located near Lago Arancio, and is partially submerged by its waters for six months of every year.

Fortino di Mazzallakkar
Sambuca di Sicilia, Sicily, Italy
Fortino di Mazzallakkar and Lago Arancio
Coordinates37°37′47.31″N 13°4′31.14″E
TypeFort
Heightup to 4 m (13 ft)
Site information
OwnerPrivate
Open to
the public		On request
ConditionRuins
Site history
Builtc. 830
Built byArabs
MaterialsLimestone

History

The Fortino di Mazzallakkar was built by the Arabs in around 830 AD, possibly to defend the territory around Sambuca di Sicilia, which was then known as Zabut.[1]

The fort was still in good condition until the mid-20th century, and it was used as a shelter for sheep and cattle. In the 1950s, the Carboj dam was built, causing the flooding of Lago Arancio. The fort is located at the edge of the lake, and is partially submerged around 6 months of the year. This has caused a lot of damage to the fort.[1]

The fort is privately owned, and can be visited on request.[2]

Layout

The fort originally had a square shape, with a circular tower on each corner. The towers had limestone domes and were equipped with slits. The walls were up to 4 m (13 ft) high.[1]

References
  1. "Fortino di Mazzallakkar". Virtual Sicily (in Italian). Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  2. Orlando, Andrea. "Fortino Di Mazzallakkar". iCastelli.it (in Italian). Retrieved 10 September 2015.
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