Castello: Churches, Towers and Paths Above the Valle del Fitalia

Castello lies on a hilltop overlooking the Valle del Fitalia. The town combines this striking location with churches, monastery ruins, historic traces of Castanìa and a museum dedicated to olive-milling technology. For your travel planning, this creates a destination with several clearly distinguishable focal points spanning landscape, architectural history and local memory.

Churches and historic sites

The Dominican monastery, together with the adjacent Chiesa di San Vincenzo Ferreri, was founded in 1444 by the Blessed Giovanni di Pistoia and run by Dominican friars. Following restoration in 2009, the remains of both complexes have been used as an open-air auditorium; at the same time, their religious function continues.

The Chiesa di San Francesco was built by local craftsmen in 1574 and restored in 1633. The “Antico Borgo Castanìa” memorial trail begins at the Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi, which serves as the entrance to the historic town centre. The tourist trail is designed to provide direct access to and an opportunity to experience the archaeological remains and monuments of ancient Castanìa.

The Chiesa di Santa Barbara also dates back a long way: it already existed in 1472, although the year of its foundation is unknown. The Chiesa di San Nicola dates from the 12th century and was Castanìa’s first Chiesa Madre. Older traces also include “U Chianu a Vucciria”, which dates from the 12th or 13th century and served as the social and political centre of Castanìa.

Tower, olive mill and local orientation

The central tower of the “Castello” has a square, characteristically Byzantine floor plan and probably belongs to this fortification system. During the rule of the Sollima family, the tower was converted into a residence in 1553.

The Museo dell’Olio is housed in a former Dominican olive mill dating from 1508 and preserves parts of the original milling equipment. These include a mill, basins and millstones. The facilities of the former frantoio are made accessible through an educational interpretation trail.

Three specific reference points help with orientation in the surrounding area. The Castello–Sirico municipal road runs past the Casa Protetta in Contrada Castello, within the municipality of Castell’Umberto. To reach the Parco Ecologico di Piano Collura, leave the SS 116 in the direction of Randazzo and follow the “Regia Trazzera Naso-Castell’Umberto-Floresta”. Fontana Piazza is also known as “Funtana a Chiazza” and was a resting place where travellers found respite in the Valle del Fitalia.

Events with fixed historical dates

A procession through Contrada Castello was scheduled for 3 March 2025 as part of the Carnevale Umbertino. Contrada Castello was also planned as a stop on the non-competitive Motocavalcata scheduled for 17 May 2025.

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For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.