Castiglione di Sicilia
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 6 January 2023
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The town of Castiglione di Sicilia is situated in the Metropolitan City of Catania province with a population of around 3,000.
It stands at an elevation of 621 metres above sea level and is included in the list of Borghi Più Belli d'Italia (most beautiful villages in Italy). Main sights around the town include the hilltop fortress of Castello di Lauria and a number of churches. |
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The good people at the Borghi Più Belli d'Italia headline the town as being "between Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorge", and you'd have to say that's a pretty accurate description. Mount Etna is known across the world and requires little introduction, especially after its multiple eruptions in the early part of 2021 that saw spectacular images of lava flows flashing around the world while locals in the area just brushed it all off as nothing out of the ordinary.
The Alcantara Gorge doesn't have the worldwide fame of Etna but it's a special place for Sicilians and tourists alike; its unusual rock formations can be explored in a number of ways, most of which include getting wet! The Gola di Alcantara (to use its Italian name) has made it to the big screen in recent years, taking its place as a backdrop to certain scenes of the fantastic Tale of Tales starring Salma Hayek and John C Reilly in 2015.
Castiglione di Sicilia's main sights can be enjoyed from the elevated perch of the Castello di Lauria; the insides of the castle are fairly modest but if you're lucky you'll find a local able to give you a guided tour which makes it really interesting and the tours are often free, save for a gratuity. From the castle it's just a few steps to the town's main church: the Basilica Madonna della Catena which is just one of several that include the Chiesa Madre dei Santi Pietro e Paolo and the Chiesa di San Benedetto.
In April 2021 the mayor of Castiglione di Sicilia: Antonino Camarda announced a plan to reinvigorate the economy of the town whose population figures have dropped by as much as 80% over the course of the last century. At the moment there are around 3,000 residents in the town where once there were 15,000. The plan is to offer a number of abandoned homes in the town for the nominal fee of €1, which would enable the town to grab the attention of the world's media and promote the idea of foreign investors moving in.
There are around 900 homes in the village up for sale, not all for the headline figure of €1, but with prices suitably low to be tempting. The hope is that by offering the homes for such a small price, the town's population and economy can be revitalised. The idea of living in Sicily appeals to millions of people around the world, albeit with some work to do to bring the home up to modern living standards.
So what can one expect to find nearby? Well, Castiglione di Sicilia occupies an area of rolling hills, so typical of Sicily, with the aforementioned Mount Etna lending its imposing presence to the south west of the town. Public transport is one of Sicily's weaknesses but with a car, there are a great number of places to visit under an hour away. The most exciting of all those places is the hill town of Taormina, one of the hotspots of Sicilian tourism and with some of the island's best beaches lining its shores including the spectacular Isola Bella.
There are dozens of little seaside towns either side of Taormina with Giardini Naxos and Lajatico the pick of the bunch. The major city in the area is Catania which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its collection of Baroque architecture. It's a lively, youthful city with its own beaches nearby such as the one at the quirky Aci Trezza.
Aside from Catania's cultural attractions, it's also an important travel hub for Sicily with the Catania Fontanarossa Airport just a few miles outside the city. From Castiglione di Sicilia to Catania Airport is a drive of an hour and ten minutes (70 km), the first half of which is along the slow roads from the village before reaching the much faster E45/A18 Catania - Messina motorway. Both Catania and Messina to the north which are roughly equidistant from Castiglione, are important ferry ports with connections to major cities in Italy, Europe and beyond. You can also cross to the Italian mainland via Messina with ferries crossing the Messina Strait regularly throughout the day.
The Alcantara Gorge doesn't have the worldwide fame of Etna but it's a special place for Sicilians and tourists alike; its unusual rock formations can be explored in a number of ways, most of which include getting wet! The Gola di Alcantara (to use its Italian name) has made it to the big screen in recent years, taking its place as a backdrop to certain scenes of the fantastic Tale of Tales starring Salma Hayek and John C Reilly in 2015.
Castiglione di Sicilia's main sights can be enjoyed from the elevated perch of the Castello di Lauria; the insides of the castle are fairly modest but if you're lucky you'll find a local able to give you a guided tour which makes it really interesting and the tours are often free, save for a gratuity. From the castle it's just a few steps to the town's main church: the Basilica Madonna della Catena which is just one of several that include the Chiesa Madre dei Santi Pietro e Paolo and the Chiesa di San Benedetto.
In April 2021 the mayor of Castiglione di Sicilia: Antonino Camarda announced a plan to reinvigorate the economy of the town whose population figures have dropped by as much as 80% over the course of the last century. At the moment there are around 3,000 residents in the town where once there were 15,000. The plan is to offer a number of abandoned homes in the town for the nominal fee of €1, which would enable the town to grab the attention of the world's media and promote the idea of foreign investors moving in.
There are around 900 homes in the village up for sale, not all for the headline figure of €1, but with prices suitably low to be tempting. The hope is that by offering the homes for such a small price, the town's population and economy can be revitalised. The idea of living in Sicily appeals to millions of people around the world, albeit with some work to do to bring the home up to modern living standards.
So what can one expect to find nearby? Well, Castiglione di Sicilia occupies an area of rolling hills, so typical of Sicily, with the aforementioned Mount Etna lending its imposing presence to the south west of the town. Public transport is one of Sicily's weaknesses but with a car, there are a great number of places to visit under an hour away. The most exciting of all those places is the hill town of Taormina, one of the hotspots of Sicilian tourism and with some of the island's best beaches lining its shores including the spectacular Isola Bella.
There are dozens of little seaside towns either side of Taormina with Giardini Naxos and Lajatico the pick of the bunch. The major city in the area is Catania which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its collection of Baroque architecture. It's a lively, youthful city with its own beaches nearby such as the one at the quirky Aci Trezza.
Aside from Catania's cultural attractions, it's also an important travel hub for Sicily with the Catania Fontanarossa Airport just a few miles outside the city. From Castiglione di Sicilia to Catania Airport is a drive of an hour and ten minutes (70 km), the first half of which is along the slow roads from the village before reaching the much faster E45/A18 Catania - Messina motorway. Both Catania and Messina to the north which are roughly equidistant from Castiglione, are important ferry ports with connections to major cities in Italy, Europe and beyond. You can also cross to the Italian mainland via Messina with ferries crossing the Messina Strait regularly throughout the day.
Comune di Castiglione di Sicilia
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Province: Metropolitan City of Catania
Region: Sicily Population: 2,930 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 121 km² Elevation: 621 metres Highlights: Basilica Madonna della Catena, Castello di Lauria Close by: Alcantara Gorge, Giardini Naxos, Taormina, Isola Bella Recommended accommodation: Hotel Federico II |
One of I Borghi più belli d'Italia (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages)
Listing headline: Tra l'Alcantara e l'Etna (Between the Alcantara Gorge and Mount Etna)
Listing headline: Tra l'Alcantara e l'Etna (Between the Alcantara Gorge and Mount Etna)
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