Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday inaugurated the newly restored Castello Utveggio overlooking Palermo, a day after his 85th birthday, reopening the landmark as an international conference centre following a decade of abandonment.
Sicily Governor Renato Schifani received Mattarella at the site, joined by Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla, Archbishop Corrado Lorefice and regional officials. The ceremony featured speeches by the region's cultural heritage superintendent Selima Giuliano and Schifani, along with a performance by the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Francesco Di Mauro. Schifani presented Mattarella with an encyclopedia of Sicily and noted the recent wildfires on the island and the death of firefighter Alessandro Marchì.
The restoration cost nearly 6 million euros and took a year to complete, funded by the Sicilian regional government. The castle reopened to guided tours in December 2025 and has since drawn more than 25,000 visitors, with bookings now full through August 2026.