Milazzo Castle and Churches

Departure | Milazzo (Me)

Meeting point for participants at Piazza Roma. The excursion begins with a guided visit to the Cathedral of Milazzo — a place of great historical importance housing precious textile artifacts, sculptures, and goldsmithery. Next, we head to the Church of San Giacomo, built in 1435, and the Church of the Carmine, originally constructed in 1574 and rebuilt in 1726 after being destroyed during the Spanish siege of 1717.

The centerpiece of the excursion is the visit to the Castello di Milazzo — a fortified citadel perched on a promontory that has hosted Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab settlements. The earliest documents mentioning the Castle date back to the Norman period (11th–12th century), when the characteristic Keep (Mastio) was built. Inside the citadel, it is possible to visit the Ancient Cathedral, built in the early 17th century to replace the Mother Church of Santa Maria, which was demolished to make way for the 16th-century fortifications — in particular the Bastion of Santa Maria. This cathedral, now deconsecrated, has been declared a national monument.

The Castello di Milazzo has an irregular trapezoidal layout with eight quadrangular towers, including the Norman tower on the western side — the tallest and oldest element of the complex. Of particular interest is the fireplace hall, dating to the Swabian period, where the Sicilian Parliament is believed to have convened in 1295. The entire castle courtyard is surrounded by the Aragonese walls, inside which warehouses, cisterns, and prison cells were built.

This excursion offers a comprehensive overview of Milazzo’s history and architecture, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of distant eras and discover the traces of ancient civilizations and their cultural influences. Castle entrance is free for ages 0 to 10 and for visitors with disabilities and their companions.