Located within the Nebrodi Park at more than 1000 meters above sea level, Capizzi is a small Sicilian town that develops around the Verna hill and is crossed by the Simeto river.
Its rather isolated position and the charm of the landscape that surrounds it make this center one of the most interesting destinations in the area, especially for tourists who love to immerse themselves in nature.
The origins of Capizzi in Messina
The first evidence of this small town dates back to the settlement of Siculi and Sicani who, from the coastal areas, moved inland, founding the first inhabited centers in the second half of the XNUMXth century BC.
Subsequently there were numerous invasions by the Greeks who, from 400 to 340 BC colonized a large part of Sicily as the island was part of the colonies of Magna Graecia.
In this period the Sicilian population absorbed numerous notions on agriculture and livestock breeding, so as to develop a rather flourishing economy which contributed to expanding the boundaries of the village. With the advent of the Romans there was a partial reversal of direction as the citizens were pushed above all towards trade and therefore the descent towards the coasts, preferential routes for maritime exchanges.
In the XNUMXrd century Capizzi was initially occupied by the Ostrogoths and then returned under Roman rule under Justinian, who annexed much of Sicily to the Western Roman Empire.
It was precisely in this phase that, following the numerous raids by pirates coming up from the sea, the inhabitants decided to retire permanently to the heights, transforming the primitive village into an urban centre. The Byzantines, later, exploited these characteristics by creating a real fortified citadel that could count on some important communication routes.
Around 900 AD Capizzi passed under the dominion of the Arabs, traces of which are still present in the remains of some typical monuments of Islamic culture. Stairs, zigzagging alleys, very narrow streets and buildings with flat roofs are the testimonies of this period.
Then followed the invasions of the Swabians and Normans who, following the conquest of Messina, also reached many centers in the hinterland, including Capizzi.
Around 1300 Sicily was occupied by the Angevins and Aragonese, dynasties who took care of improving the living conditions of the inhabitants by offering them material supports of considerable value.
In 1600 Capizzi Messina became a state-owned city, thus assuming all the characteristics of this administration, which imposed social redemption for many farmers reduced to poverty by unjust land taxes.
During the seventeenth century the center became a fiefdom of some of the most important dynasties present on the island, going through an unfortunate phase of famine caused by impositions that were not always advantageous. In fact, many farmers and woodcutters were forced to abandon their lands to move towards the coast.
Fortunately, this criticality ended at the end of the 1700s, when Capizzi regained his dominion over the lands and the citizens were again able to fully exploit their resources.
What to visit in Capizzi and its surroundings
Perched on top of the Nebrodi Mountains, Capizzi is considered one of the most fascinating destinations in the Messina hinterland, also thanks to the perfect conservation of its ancient buildings.
The main places of interest are: the remains of Arab Castle, Mother Church dedicated to St Nicholas of Bari, a medieval basilica with a fine Gothic portal, the Sanctuary of San Giacomo Maggiore, which is the oldest church in Sicily and dates back to the period of Norman domination. Inside the Basilica are the relics of St. James and a statue of the Madonna del Soccorso, dating back to 1517.
In Piazza Umberto I you cannot miss a stop at theOratory of the Company of the Blessed Sacrament with its elegant eighteenth-century portico and the former Benedictine monastery which inside houses the beautiful Church of the Annunciation.
How to get to Capizzi
Capizzi can be easily reached starting from Messina and using the train, bus or car: on the train the route is direct and lasts about 2 and a half hours. From the city there are also buses that take you to Capizzi in about 3 hours and that allow you to admire a wonderful landscape.
Who prefers to use theauto must estimate a journey of just under 2 hours, because despite the distance being only 150 kilometres, the roads are very full of twists and turns and therefore the travel speed is necessarily limited.
© Image by Liquid nitrogen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
