Castello between Castanìa and Valle del Fitalia

Castello is situated on a hill overlooking the Valle del Fitalia. The town combines a striking landscape setting with traces of Castanìa: churches, former religious complexes, a historic square and a memorial trail make the area particularly interesting for anyone wishing to discover Sicily through its history and established townscapes. When looking for a hotel in Castello, the accommodation itself is therefore not the only consideration; you may also want to ask whether you would like to combine your stay with a cultural focus and a variety of excursion destinations.

Following in the footsteps of Castanìa

The “Antico Borgo Castanìa” tourist memorial trail is designed to provide direct access to the archaeological remains and monuments of ancient Castanìa. It begins at the Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi, which serves as the entrance to the historic town centre. The trail thus offers its own perspective on the town’s history, while the Chiesa di San Francesco also has a clearly documented construction history: it was built in 1574 by local craftsmen and restored in 1633.

Several religious buildings demonstrate how far back the town’s history reaches. The Chiesa di Santa Barbara already existed in 1472; its founding year is unknown. The Chiesa di San Nicola dates from the 12th century and was the first Chiesa Madre of Castanìa. “U Chianu a Vucciria” also dates from the 12th or 13th century and served at that time as the social and political centre of Castanìa. The Fontana Piazza, also known as “Funtana a Chiazza”, was a resting place where travellers in the Valle del Fitalia could take a break. These dates show that the townscape has preserved evidence and uses from several centuries, rather than representing just a single historical period.

Monastery, tower and Museo dell’Olio

The Dominican monastery, together with the adjacent Chiesa di San Vincenzo Ferreri, was founded in 1444 by Blessed Giovanni di Pistoia and run by Dominican friars. Following restoration in 2009, the remains of the monastery and church have been used as an open-air auditorium; their religious function continues to this day. This site therefore brings together historic building fabric, religious significance and a present-day use without obscuring its earlier history.

The central tower is a defining feature of the “Castello”. It has a square, characteristically Byzantine ground plan and probably belongs to this fortification system. During the rule of the Sollima family, the tower was converted into a dwelling house in 1553. The Museo dell’Olio adds a theme from rural everyday life to the historical tour: it is located in a former Dominican olive mill dating from 1508. The original facilities of the former Frantoio have been preserved, including the mill, basins and millstones; they can be viewed along an educational tour.

For further orientation and to compare additional destinations, you can also find Librizzi (Librizzi), Rinella (Rinella), Monforte San Giorgio (Monforte San Giorgio), Malfa (Malfa), Quattropani (Quattropani), Filicudi Porto (Filicudi Porto), Calvaruso (Calvaruso) and Roccalumera (Roccalumera).

For the overarching travel overview: Messina.