The Castle of Milazzo: an evolution that goes from prehistory to the twentieth century.

The history of our beloved Sicily is vast, rich in history, legends and nostalgic nuances and the castles tell it in their vicissitudes. From the Arab conquest to the Norman one, passing through the Spanish influences and the rich Sicilian Baroque. There are more than 200 castles, fortresses and strongholds on the island. Some are reduced to ruins and their indisputable charm blends with that of unforgettable landscapes. Others have arrived more intact up to the present day. All absolutely to visit: among those previously discussed we remember the Castle of Caccamo, Ursino, Carini, Donnafugata and Sperlinga.

This time we will focus on the wonderful Castle of Milazzo which we highly recommend as part of the itinerary of your trip to eastern Sicily. From here, you can visit the most interesting places in the area such as Taormina, which has always fascinated artists and intellectuals, the nearby seaside destinations of Mazzarò Bay, Capo Sant’Andrea, Isola Bella and Giardini di Naxos. And again, destinations such as the Etna Park, the Alcantara Gorges, the Nebrodi Mountains, Caltagirone and its ceramics.
And if you feel tired after this adventurous day, you can always stay in one of our fantastic private villas with pools in the area.

The Castle of Milazzo, also known as the Fortified Citadel of Milazzo, is a fortress located in the homonymous city in the delightful province of Messina. It, and the whole area included in the enclosure of the Spanish walls, represents the largest fortified citadel existing in Sicily with an area of ​​7 hectares and 12,000 square metres occupied by buildings.

The fortified citadel is one of the few examples of military architecture in which there are still defensive systems created over the course of 10 centuries by those who ruled this territory. Of course, the site has not only and always had purely military values, having also been part of a mediaeval village between the Aragonese and Spanish surrounding walls. Here are some of the most salient moments in the history of the Castle:

• 4000 circa - VIII century BC, prehistoric nucleus consisting of a Neolithic settlement and Necropolis;
• VIII - VII century BC, Greek settlement formed by a residential agglomeration attributable to the Greek domination;
• VII BC - 5th century AD C., Roman settlement;
• V - IX century, Byzantine settlement;
• 11th - 12th century, construction of the Norman dungeon with the Parliament Hall;
• 1266 - 1282, Angevin Parenthesis, Sicilian Vespers and attempted reconquest of the Castle;
• XIV century, Aragonese walls and protective bulwarks;
• 1568 the construction of the Spanish city walls;
• 1529 - 1575, Spanish walls and defensive system;
• 1805 - 1815, English stronghold and headquarters during the battles to oppose Napoleon's campaigns;
• 1880, Judicial prison;
• Twentieth century, the prison was abandoned and the entire area declared a National Monument is the subject of long restoration campaigns.

The artefacts in chronological order follow a pyramidal and concentric development downwards, the oldest part is placed at the top and gradually downwards the various overlaps identifiable in the styles of the typical architecture of the various dominations. The Necropolis and the areas that make up the agglomeration are located in the flat areas of the Citadel.
To date, it has hosted events of various kinds such as the Mish Mash Festival since 2016, one of the most prominent art and indie, rock and electronic music festivals in Southern Italy.

Villa Luce: A few kilometres from Taormina, one of the most important international tourist centers and one of the greatest destinations of the famous Grand Tour, you will find this wonderful property. 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.

Villa Tao: Villa Tao is a wonderful luxury residence located in the beautiful city of Taormina, just 10 minutes walk from the center and just over a kilometer from the fantastic Sicilian sea. Immersed in a garden of 2000 square metres, the villa is surrounded by fragrant Mediterranean vegetation with a thousand shades of green where you will find the splendid private salt purified pool and a fantastic Jacuzzi where you can relax surrounded by the smells of north-eastern Sicily.

Nerello Mascalese: Splendid country residence located on the slopes of the Etna volcano, very close to the characteristic town of Randazzo. With its 5 bedrooms, it is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends for a holiday of peace and quiet, detached from the chaos of the city. The residence has many shaded corners in which to relax and a delightful private swimming pool in which to cool off in the hottest hours and be able to observe the wonderful panorama over the hills of Eastern Sicily.

Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square meters of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colors 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.

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.

Vecchia Dimora Resort: Wonderful residence just a few kilometers 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 home that has been 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 tranquility but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.