Milazzo is situated 44 km away from Messina on a narrow peninsula. The town has been known since the past time, exactly since the 8th century B.C., when ancient Greeks founded their colony of Mylai there. The strategic significance of Milazzo as an important port in the Tyrrhenian Sea made it the arena of great battles. The most famous of them took place in 1860 and is known as the Battle of Milazzo, when Garibaldi troops struggled with Bourbon army near that place.
There are a lot of interesting places in Milazzo, but unfortunately the tourist interest is not very big. That is because of its geographical position, which is very convenient, but most of the tourists are transit passengers, who are going from the port of Milazzo to the famous Lipari Islands and Naples. That is why the hotels have vacant rooms even during “hot” season. And that is good for those tourists who have enough time to see the sights of Sicily, to know its history not from the hurrying guides, but to see everything with their own eyes.
Milazzo is divided into two parts: the fortified town “borgo” and the lower town. Wicked tongues say that there is only one thing in Milazzo, which is worth seeing. It is the citadel which was built in the epoch of the Normans. It is true to some extent because it is the most important historical monument there. The fortress is situated in the north-eastern part of the town and is one of the first buildings in Sicily, which was created by the Normans. It has been reconstructed many times. Nevertheless, nowadays the citadel is well preserved as a military installation. The heart of the citadel is the castle, which is usually compared with the Tower of London.
Among the other interesting places in Milazzo are the following: the Cathedral, the ruins of the Giurati Palace, the Churches of Madonna del Rosario and of Giacomo Apostolo and the Temple of St. Francesco of Paola.
There are good beaches near Milazzo. The only disadvantage of them is that they are too narrow. From the north extremity of the peninsula, which is called Capo di Milazzo, there opens a thrilling view of the landscapes, the lighthouse, the bay of Tono and Etna volcano.
It is very convenient to travel not only to the Lipari Islands from Milazzo, but to other interesting places on Sicily. There is a wonderful king’s fortress of the 13th century called Castroreale, which is situated near Milazzo (15 km from Milazzo), the town Tindari, which has a long history, a picturesque bay, a beautiful temple and Jalari Park, the town Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto with its unique ethnographical museum.
