There
are plenty of restaurants and
cafes in Castelmola,
but a nice alternative is to pick
up a picnic lunch from the
friendly Mini Market general
store along Via A. de Gasperi
(which leads from Piazza San
Antonio). You can have the rolls
filled with delicious local
cheeses, or whatever you fancy,
and sit down for a pleasant
outdoors meal on the next stretch
of the walk. Come and visit
Castelmola soon!!
Though
it overlooks Taormina,
one of Sicily's most popular
attractions, the nearby town of
Castelmola is rarely visited by
non-Sicilians. Yet, the
spectacular views from this
fascinating spot make those from
Taormina
seem almost mundane by
comparison. This includes Mount
Etna, of course, but on a clear
day you can see beyond the Etna
region to Siracusa
and Augusta farther down the
Ionian coast, beyond
Catania.
More than an outgrowth of
Taormina, Castelmola is a
locality in its own
right.
The
human presence here is an ancient one,
dating at least from the Bronze Age. It
was the Greeks who began complete
colonization, linked to their
establishment of Taormina.
That's when the first fortresses were
constructed. Little remains of these, or
of the subsequent Arab and Norman
fortifications, though some walls have
been rebuilt. The sanctuary of the Madonna
della Rocca, locally famous for its annual
procession descending down steps to
Taormina,
offers some fantastic views. A small town
eventually grew here, but rather few
people live here year-round. Castelmola is
better known for its restaurants,
bars and pizzerias. The
Turrisi
Bar,
with its phallic theme (in sculpture,
paintings and other art) remains the most
eccentric attraction. The local specialty
is almond wine. The piazzas and winding
streets are charming.
Unless
you're arriving by helicopter, there are
two ways of getting up to Castelmola.
By car, simply follow the winding
Castelmola
road; during the day there's also a bus to
Castelmola.
On foot, take the steps which ascend to
the sanctuary (or convent) of the Madonna
della Rocca. This can be reached from the
streets behind and above the Church of
Saint Joseph (San Giuseppe) off one of
Taormina's main squares. This presumes
that you're in good health. (If it's hot,
bring some water with you.)
Up on
Mount Tauro, there are actually several
parts of Castelmola
a
beyond the main town and the few remaining
piece of the "primary" castle. The area of
the sanctuary is one of these, near the
newer "secondary" castle (built upon the
foundations of an ancient Greek
acropolis), which is visible from
Taormina.
This conventual church is usually closed.
In the town itself the main church, Saint
George, is a newer structure built upon
medieval Byzantine foundations. The local
feasts are Saint George's Day (23rd
April), sometimes celebrated April 22nd,
and the Summer festival on August
28th.
The
human presence here is an ancient one,
dating at least from the Bronze Age. It
was the Greeks who began complete
colonization, linked to their
establishment of 
