Castelmola - a small town in the province of Messina, located 170 km from Palermo and 40 km from Messina and directly bordering Taormina. Covering an area of ​​16, 5 sq.km. He has just over a thousand people.

In ancient times, the town was called Mile, and its present name - Castelmola - comes from the Norman castle, towering over the city center on a rock in the form of attritor mill ("mole" in Italian).

Castelmola was founded in the 8th century BC At the end of the 10th century a ferocious Ibrahim, ruler of the Tunisian Kairouan, destroyed the city fortification, destroyed the city and killed most of its inhabitants and left through the gates of Castelmola, which has since become known as "Gate of the Saracens." In 1078 the Norman King Roger I drove the Arabs from Sicily and built around a fortified castle of the new city, called Mola. From 1928 to 1947 he was part of Taormina, and later got independence.

Castelmola Today, residents are engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and production of souvenirs. Here grow citrus fruits, olives, prickly pears, grapes and wheat. Developed and tourism - in the old town has several interesting sights, as well as a souvenir tourists can always buy hand-made souvenirs and exquisite embroidery.

Among the main places to visit in Castelmola, it is worth noting the Town Hall in Piazza dei Cappuccini, the ruins of a 16th-century church of San Giorgio, built in the 15th century, with a beautiful font works by Pietro da Carona, and the Cathedral of the 16th century, renovated in 1935. From Piazza San Antonio, built in 1954, offers beautiful views of Taormina. The square itself is paved with white stone, volcanic lava, and its sidewalks planted with trees. Here comes the eponymous churches facade, rebuilt several times, but still maintain features of traditional religious architecture in southern Italy. And close to the famous cafe "San Giorgio", opened in the 18th century. Since 1907 its owners are collected from visitors autographs and words of gratitude - a unique album can be seen by anyone.

In good weather, the streets of Castelmola offers fantastic views of lying at the bottom of Taormina, the coast and the towering hulk of Mount Etna in the distance.