Pace del Mela, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, is a Sicilian municipality populated by just over 6.000 people and overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, just 4,8 km from the northern coast of Sicily; the hamlet of Giammoro instead allows you to directly access the sea.
The beauties of nature, the Story , seeds they are the three pillars on which the wealth of Pace del Mela, with its itineraries to follow, the traces of history to follow and, finally, the culinary traditions to taste to fully enjoy yours holiday in northern Sicily, in addition to the village festivals or festivals, to discover all the colors of Pace del Mela.
Peace of the Apple, history and origins
Before history, in the period we call the late Pleistocene (about 126.000 years ago) these areas were populated by elephants: the findings of the last century testify to this, which brought to light the skeletons of these large animals; in front of the coasts of Giammoro, in 36 BC the battle of Naulochus, where they clashed Caesar Octavian and Sextus Pompey, consigning a stretch of the Sicilian coast to history. But the story of Peace of Mela, of the village that we can still visit today as tourists, began more precisely in the XNUMXth century, a period to which some of the oldest buildings in the town date back, such as the Church of Our Lady of Abundance (1720) or the Gordone Palace. From the numerous churches present in the town, we know that during the eighteenth century the center was inhabited by Benedictine friars, while in the following centuries, several stately palaces were built which can still be visited today and are a tangible sign of the presence of a rich bourgeoisie in Pace del Mela. Less visible, although not completely disappeared from the town, are the traces of the ancient peasant and rural life of the place, at the service of the Gordone family, represented by mills, oil mills and warehouses that were present in the town.
Pace del Mela gave birth to many important personalities of the last century, such as poet and priest Don Silvio Cucinotta,actor and director Massimo Mollica and Magistrate Piero Calogero.
What to see in Pace del Mela
Arriving in town, in Old Town you will find churches, palaces and villas to visit; reaching the coastal hamlets, you will have direct access to the clear and wonderful sea of Sicily.
Among the religious buildings that you should visit in the village, start from Mother Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, built in 1763, and close to the Peace Municipality of Mela. In addition to the small Church of Santa Maria dell'Abbondanza, there are also the Old Rustic Complex Case Monks, former home of the Benedictines and the Church of the Redeemer. Also in the historic centre, a few steps from Piazza del Municipio, you will find the Crimi villa and cottage Sure, examples of Art Nouveau architecture, as well as Palazzo Lo Sciotto and Seahorse Fountain.
From downtown, you can head North until you reach Giammoro with its beauties pebble beaches. Other splendid destinations are not far from Pace del Mela, such as the Milazzo promontory, with the city and the port (from where, if you wish, you can take the ferry to Aeolian Islands) or the Spadafora Castle, a sixteenth-century fortress which is now perfectly preserved.
If you also want to visit a big city, Messina it is only 35 km from the center of Pace del Mela.
Traditions at Pace del Mela
Traditions in the village are a matter of great importance: at the table you don't give up on the excellent local cuisine, while when it comes to festivities, the whole town participates with animation and devotion in the Patronal Feast or indulges in the fun and taste of the Festivals.
Among the meat dishes, the Messina cuisine offers busiate with pork ragout or stuffed leg of lamb, while those who prefer very fresh fish can taste the delicious Sicilian couscous or try the red snapper in acqua pazza.
La Patronal Festival of Peace of Mela it takes place on July 2, the day in which the memory of the Madonna della Visitazione is celebrated, with a large procession through the streets of the town, during which the faithful carry a wooden statue of the Madonna, built in the nineteenth century, through the streets of the centre; another great celebration in Pace del Mela is the one held in honor of the Madonna del Rosario, in August in Giammoro.
If you want to take part in one of the typical local festivals, go to Pace del Mela Condrò is preferably used for Bruschetta Festival in August or there Mamertino wine festival in Santa Lucia del Mela, in December.
How to get to Pace del Mela
Pace del Mela can be easily reached by car or train: by car, take the A20 Messina-Buonfornello motorway to the Milazzo-Isole Eolie exit, just 3 km from the centre; on the train, book a ride to Milazzo Station, which is located about 4,8 km from the town and is connected to the center by bus or shuttle.
