The Castello D'Alcontres in Nice of Sicily

Nizza di Sicilia, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, is a wonderful location located on the Ionian coast of the island: the waters in this part are clear and crystalline, but it is not only nature that makes Nizza di Sicilia an attractive destination for visitors and tourists. Among the beauties that man has built on these lands, in fact, the Alcontres Castle certainly stands out among the many.

The Castle in Nizza di Sicilia was built at the end of the sixteenth century and at the end of the following century it was occupied by the revolting people of Messina. A nobleman from Fiumedinisi, an area surrounding the stream of the same name which flows about 4 km from the town, manages to reconquer it with the help of the Fiumenisians and the Spanish, putting the fortress at the service of the defense of Roccalumera, with the addition of numerous cannons.

Later the La Rocca family, princes of Alcontres, became the owner of the castle.
As the years passed, some parts of the castle were demolished (such as the Square Tower, removed in 1973) and the building was finally renovated in 1989, the year in which the main access from via Castello d'Alcontres was transformed into a staircase.

The Castle in Nizza di Sicilia is a monument to the history of the country, which the local population rightly loves to celebrate, as on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of its construction, when a historical procession converged at the foot of the Castle.

The architecture of the Alcontres castle in Nice di Sicilia and the works it houses

The Castle in Nizza di Sicilia consists of a large central body, flanked by two crenellated bodies on the sides, in a more advanced position than the main building. Furthermore, there is a family chapel attached to it (the current one Church of St. Joseph) and the steps built in the last century.
In 1989, the year in which the steps were built, the balcony of the castle, which is visible today, was also renovated.

Following the demolitions of past centuries, it is not possible to see anything else of the ancient fortress, but this fortified monument is today a stop on tours and tourist routes, as its grandeur is still capable of arousing amazement in those who sight it.

What to do at the Alcontres castle in Nice di Sicilia and surrounding areas

To see the Castle in Nizza di Sicilia you can take a walk towards Via Garibaldi, not far from the historic center of Nice; the fortress is also included as a must-see stop lose on larger tours, which lead tourists in the area to discover the local beauties.

Near the Castle, it is possible to visit the Church of San Giuseppe, partially destroyed by the Messina earthquake of 1908 and patiently rebuilt only in 1925. Saint Joseph is co-patron saint of Nice with Santa Maria Assunta, to which the Mother Church of the town, built for the first time in 1892 in the Landro-Casapinta district and rebuilt several times due to stability problems: what visitors can admire today is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, definitively built in 1983.

Among the other civil architecture found in Nizza di Sicilia, in addition to the Castle, the Palace of the Museum of the Risorgimento, which in Sicily is linked to story of Giovanni Interdonato, patriot and follower of Giuseppe Garibaldi. The story of the colonel and his friends and family engaged in the anti-Bourbon struggle and committed to Garibaldi's mission is told in the rooms of Palazzo Parisi-De Luca, in via Umberto I.

History enthusiasts will find many interesting ideas to delve more closely into a fundamental moment in the birth of our country; and so, after a tour of the center and some important stops in Nizza di Sicilia, the holiday can also continue in search of fun and relaxation.

The stretch of the Ionian coast is wonderful: just a few kilometers from Nice there is Taormina, with some of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily, such as those of Isola Bella, 2 km from the center or the nearby Spiaggia di Mazzeo, just 7 km.

Anyone traveling with children absolutely cannot miss the appointment at Kontiland - Artistic Sicily in Miniature, where there are incredible scale reconstructions of the most beautiful architectural, historical and artistic attractions of Sicily; a perfect place for children, but which will also capture the attention of adults.

Sicily is waiting to be discovered: between one stop and another on your tour, don't forget to taste the local cuisine, to taste the fried olives, Marsala style tomatoes or fried sausage directly on site, as well as other very tasty dishes. dishes from Messina.

How to get to the Alcontres castle in Nice di Sicilia

Nizza di Sicilia, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, is located approximately 48 km from the Strait. Reaching the town is easy, both by car and train, from any point on the island.
Those traveling by car can take the A18 to the exit for Roccalumera (just 3 km from the centre) or the A20 turning at the exit for Messina - San Filippo, about 20 km from Nice.
Traveling by train, travelers can get off at the Santa Teresa di Riva station, which is only 6 km from the town center to which it is connected by public bus and private shuttle services.