Castelmola
Castelmola is a municipality in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, with 1077 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012).
Location and data
The municipality is located 529 m s.l.m. on the summit of Monte Tauro. The distance to the neighboring village of Taormina is three kilometers to Messina, there are 46 km, 56 km to Catania. Main occupation of the inhabitants is tourism.
The neighboring municipalities are Gaggi, Letojanni, Mongiuffi Melia and Taormina.
History
Castelmola was founded in the 8th century BC by the Siculi. In 392 BC the city was destroyed together with Taormina by Dionysius I and 350 BC rebuilt. In 902, the town was once again destroyed by the Arabs. In the Middle Ages Castelmola was in possession of various noble families. From 1929 to 1947, the village belonged to Taormina.
Structures
- San Giorgio church in Piazza Antonio from the 17th century
- Castle from the Middle Ages, enlarged in the 16th century
- Sanctuary of the Madonna della Rocca halfway mark to Taormina, built in the 17th century
- Cocolamazzo di Mola, cave graves of 10 BC until the 7th century AD