Castelmola, una finestra sul mare a due passi da Taormina

Castelmola is a small jewel in the province of Messina. Its name derives from the ancient Norman fortress that represents its symbol and of which few, but fascinating ruins, remain today. From here, the panorama embracesEtna, the bay of Giardini Naxos and the stretch of coast to the south.

The ideal tour can start from the historic centre, perhaps with the company of a local guide who can regale you with myths, legends and interesting facts, and recommend the right spots to try the best of Sicilian cuisine.

The original urban layout is medieval and very well preserved, divided into a maze of narrow streets, collected squares and historic churches.
Piazza Sant'Antonino is unmissable, with its mosaic flooring in white stone and lava stone and the viewpoint from which to admire the splendidTaormina, but also part of the Ionian coast and Calabria.
Before moving on, look at the ancient stone arch that represented the entrance to the village and has been moved to this corner of Castelmola.

The Mother Church of Castelmola is named after St Nicholas of Bari and overlooks a beautiful square, where you can stop before continuing to discover the most hidden glimpses.
If, on the other hand, you want to reach the oldest religious temple in the city, the one founded after the arrival of San Pancrazio in Taormina for its evangelisation mission, look for the Church of San Biagio.

History and art merge in a place rich in different influences, thanks to the many dominations. Here, the Greek founders were actually succeeded by the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans and more. For those who, in addition to the past, want to explore the beautiful landscapes, there are many trails and mule tracks to be followed on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike.

Adrenaline lovers can experience the thrill of paragliding, climbing to 900 metres on Mount Venus.
This natural terrace built around the ruins of a Norman castle, now resembles the millstone of the mill, hence the final part of the name, precisely "mola".
Of the construction, only the walls dominate the doors and windows of the local stone houses, coloured with soft colours ranging from yellow to antique pink.  

First of all, when you arrive in Castelmola, on the same square as Sant'Antonino, don't forget to taste the almond wine in the historic Caffè San Giorgio. Founded by the monks in the 700s, it was used as a tavern by them and preserves an album with the signatures of all the famous people who passed through these parts.

The second tip is for those who love alternative environments: in this case, the right spot for a coffee is the Bar Turrisi, which exhibits wooden, earthenware and ceramic phalluses, as a sign of luck and abundance.

Finally, the last tip to pamper the palate in Castelmola: never leave the place without having tried the pebbled almonds with sugar, the fig mustard and of course the prickly pears themselves.