Torre Bordonaro Soprano in Gangi
The Torre Bordonaro Soprano in Gangi is what remains of an ancient Fortified Masseria, characterized by a fusion of defensive and functional elements. The crenellated tower still exists, unlike the walls and buildings, now reduced to ruins.
The tower stands on a rocky spur at about 800 meters above sea level, along the Gangi River valley.The The first historical information on the Bordonaro fief dates back to 1292, a time in which it was divided into the two fiefdoms of lower and upper Bordonaro. The construction of the Masseria di Bordonaro Soprano dates back to the 14th century, in a historical context in which the Sicilian countryside was the scene of violence and looting. At that time the Bordonaro tower certainly existed.
Approximately 10 meters high, the tower has a square base, with thick walls made of limestone. The main entrance, consisting of a stone portal, is located at a certain height from the ground and was accessible via a staircase partly carved into the rock.
Inside the tower there were two rooms, one on each floor: on the on the ground floor there was a warehouse, later converted into a chapel; on the upper floor there is a fireplace. The two rooms are connected by a staircase partly dug into the rock. The top of the tower is crowned with battlements. According to popular tradition, the tower had a cistern dug into the rock.
