Castroreale

Castroreale is a small town with a glorious past, rising on a promontory called Colle Torace cutting through the valleys of the Patrì and Longano rivers between Capo Tindari and Mount Milazzo. It was always an important spa resort, exploiting the waters of the Fonte Ciappazzi (alkaline bicarbonate) and those of the Fonte Venere (sulphurous alkaline bicarbonate) recommended for a variety of liver, skin and respiratory problems.

HISTORY: Archeological evidence in the territory show that the area was inhabited in pre-hisotrical times. Castroreale was a favorite seat of King Frederick II of Aragona who in 1324 fortified the medieval village with a castle, which was probably built over a previous Arab fortress. In 1522 Charles V granted it the title of royal town. After the 1693 earthquake, Castroreale was largely rebuilt in the Baroque style, then after another earthquake in 1783 a large part of the population moved to the coast, which started a slow decline of the medieval center.

WHAT TO SEE

The 17th-century Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta, hosting works by Antonello Gagini, Francesco Cardillo, Andrea Calamech, Filippo Jannelli and Rinaldo Bonanno, a fine wood-carved choir of the 18th century, silverware by silversmiths from Messina of the 17th century and one of the seven sun-dials present in Sicily.

25 August, feast of the SS. Crocifisso, a statue kept in the church of Sant'Agata, the highest building in town locally called "u Signuri Longu".