Discover Castelmola, a unique and charming town perched on a rock. With its authentic, breathtaking views, it’s a true Sicilian treasure you must visit.
Castelmola is on the list “I Borghi più belli d’Italia,” which is a list of small Italian villages of historical interest and rich in cultural heritage. Well, for me, it wouldn’t need a list to reinforce how beautiful it is.
As soon as I arrived in Castelmola, I felt a wave of happiness running through my body. Sometimes, or rather, most of the time, it only takes me a few seconds to identify and fall in love with a place, and from that moment on, it becomes priceless to me. That’s how Castelmola became special to me ❤️.
Castelmola is located in the south of Italy, in beautiful Sicily, near Taormina and Savoca. The little town is quite small, and one hour is enough to explore it, but if you have time, stay a little longer.
We visited Castelmola in the afternoon after visiting Savoca in the morning. It’s a great combination that will make you completely in love with Sicily 🙋♀️. Castelmola is right next to the famous Taormina. There’s a post here about it too. Approximately 6.5km separates the two. Savoca is 23km away. All three are must-visit places, and you will discover something special in each of them.
The view of the city is something you shouldn’t miss. I highly recommend it. The combination of the view with the authentic and rustic charm of the village is perfect. You will have a beautiful piece of Italy to cherish in your memories.
We parked the car at the entrance of the small town and went to explore it. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but it is situated on top of a rock, which is why its terrace is spectacularly beautiful. Going up the stairs, you will find the ruins of the Norman Castle, and in the city center, there are some souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants. We took the opportunity to have pizza in the late afternoon. Those are the kind of moments that make us happy. It started to get colder towards the end of the day, and we had a coffee with a typical almond biscuit from the Sicilian region.
Castelmola is a unique, authentic, and charming town.
I will leave here the criteria that cities need to meet to be included in the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy, like Castelmola.
To be part of the list “I Borghi più belli d’Italia” (“The most beautiful villages in Italy”), they need to meet certain criteria. To be eligible, the town must:
- Have architectural and/or natural heritage certified by the requesting municipality and/or the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Environmental Conservation.
2. Historical buildings must prevail over the total number of constructions and must form an aesthetically homogeneous ensemble.
3. Offer a valuable heritage for its urban and architectural quality.
After being included in the list, the city or village is constantly monitored to see if it still meets other aspects, such as its maintenance and tourist development.