The Castle
Montalbano Elicona: the medieval village of Messina in the splendid north-eastern Sicily
03 September 2022 - Categorie: Cities of Art and Villages, Cultural tourism, The places of the heart Tags:
Montalbano Elicona is a charming village of 1,994 inhabitants located in the metropolitan city of Messina, in the splendid eastern Sicily. In addition to the charming atmosphere and the many activities that the village has to offer, it is an excellent starting point for exploring this wonderful part of the island during your journey to discover Sicily.
You can certainly start by visiting one of the most popular tourist for world tourism: Taormina with its architectural beauties, including the Greek Theatre, and from here leave for countless trips to the most popular tourist places such as the Etna Park, the Alcantara Gorges, the Nebrodi Mountains, Caltagirone and much more. And why not rest in one of our phenomenal luxury villas in the area with their swimming pools for exclusive use and their views over the city bay?
The toponym Montalbano of this delightful village is thought to derive from the Latin Mons Albus with reference to the mountains covered by snow; according to other scholars, it derives from the Arabic al-bana with the meaning of "excellent place". The name Elicona instead derives from the Greek elikon, that is tortuous like the river to which it inspires, which was added starting from the 4th century BC.
The first news of the village dates from the ninth century AD. when, conquered by the Byzantines, it took on the appearance of a fortified fortress. During the Norman conquest, it was the moment of the arrival of a Lombard colony which left its traces in the lexicon and phonetics of the local dialect. But the first official testimony came in the famous Book of King Roger by the geographer Al-Idrisi who described the village as "a very rough rock to go up and down but rich in every good".
It will then be Frederick II of Swabia to grant the fortress to his first wife as a dowry but, for having rebelled against the Empire, the village was destroyed and the inhabitants deported to Augusta, Palermo and Agrigento. However, recognizing the strategic importance of Montalbano, Frederick II had the castle rebuilt which reached its maximum splendour only with Frederick II but of Aragon. In fact, he made it his residence by fortifying the castle and surrounding the village with new walls.
The paths
The Medieval Atmosphere
The territory of Montalbano offers splendid naturalistic excursions on foot or on horseback, along beautiful paths and streams with crystal clear waters, aimed at the discovery of fascinating landscapes and countless testimonies of ancient civilizations. Definitely worth discovering is the Malabotta Wood where foxes, dormice, wild boars and the golden eagle live undisturbed among hollies, oaks, pines and chestnuts. With its fifty houses with a mediaeval atmosphere and architecture, you cannot miss this shining jewel of Sicily during your holidays.
Recommended villas
Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square metres of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colours of eastern Sicily, enjoy the quiet inside the wonderful Jacuzzi located on the terrace of the house to give you an unprecedented view of the sea and the bay of the city since always most praised by writers, philosophers and artists such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Klimt.
Borgo degli Aranci: In the village of Fiumefreddo, at the foot of Mount Etna and in front of the Ionian Sea, this spectacular residence is born, surrounded by citrus trees whose scent of oranges will delight your holidays. The residence is divided into three wonderful houses close to each other and surrounded by 11 hectares of land whose green lawn will lead you to the splendid swimming pool overlooking the gentle slope that naturally slopes towards the sea.
Villa Tao: Immersed in a garden of over 2000 square metres full of plants with Mediterranean colours and scents, Villa Tao is a sensational villa with a modern and Sicilian taste far from the chaos of the city despite being a 10-minute walk from the town of Letojanni. With its splendid private swimming pool, its 6-seater Jacuzzi and its large and shaded patio, the residence is the perfect solution for large groups and is ready to give you moments of total peace and harmony while surrounded by the sounds of north-eastern nature.
Viagrande: Luxurious villa with private pool located in Viagrande, on the south-eastern side of Etna. Furnished with taste and elegance but with a modern spirit, this splendid residence will give you moments of absolute quiet on its well-equipped and covered terrace or in its swimming pool immersed in the green of the English lawn and surrounded by Mediterranean plants.
Villaetna: Wonderful residence that was born a few kilometres from the Etna Volcano Park, detached from the chaos of the city and the classic tourist circuits to give you the opportunity to breathe the pure and nostalgic Sicily of an aristocratic past. Villaetna is an aristocratic house in fact renovated with great taste and attention to detail to preserve its splendid Baroque architecture. With its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the green nature of eastern Sicily, it is ready to give you immense peace and tranquillity but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.
La Timpa: In the heart of a small and characteristic fishing village called Santa Tecla, famous for its many restaurants overlooking the sea and full of fresh fish, this delightful residence is born a few steps from Acireale. With its wonderful private swimming pool surrounded by a lush garden with an all-Mediterranean flavor and with its view of the very blue Sicilian sea, it will give you moments of peace and fun whether you are with family or friends, from adults to children.
Villa Luce: A few kilometres from Taormina, one of the most important international tourist centres and one of the greatest destinations of the famous Grand Tour, this wonderful property arises: Villa Luce. How can you resist the charm of this location rich in history? Located on a hill 206 metres high with Mount Etna in the background, Taormina remains suspended between rocks and the sea. Place that has inspired world famous writers such as André Gide, Salvatore Quasimodo and Truman Capote or famous people such as Liz Taylor and Greta Garbo. You just have to let yourself be caressed by the sea breeze in the large terraces of Villa Luce that will give you an unprecedented and uninterrupted view of the sea and the bay of the city. Whether you want to relax on the sofas of the spacious outdoor patio on the first floor, or take a dip in the refreshing swimming pool located on one of the two large terraces, this delightful residence is for you. With its 4 double bedrooms, one of which is a master bedroom on the first floor with a view of the blue sea of Taormina, the residence is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends.