With its medieval castle it dominates the surrounding area from above. And it contains the charm of a place that has been rediscovered in recent years, so much so that it has been "crowned" village most beautiful in Italy in 2015. In the province of Messina is Montalbano Elicona, an Italian town of just over 2 inhabitants where King Frederick of Aragon he built the ancient castle that dominates it, as a place for his summer holidays. Immersing yourself in this ancient village, you will be fascinated by its alleys, narrow streets, stone houses, among craft shops and residences.
Montalbano Elicona, a bit of history
The village of Montalbano, Muntarbanu in Sicilian, would date back to the eleventh century. The term Elicona would be of Greek derivation and therefore of the colonization of that time: in fact between the VII and VIII century BC, the Dorians, thinking of the mythical Mount of the Muses, called Helikon a place that would coincide precisely with the site. Many dominated it, from Matteo Palizzi in 1350, to Vinciguerra d'Aragona in 1359, to the Lancias in 1396, to the Romano Colonna, to the Bonanno in 1587.
But its greatest wealth is due to the presence of Frederick II of Aragon. In fact, it is said that it was he who had an ancient castle built in the old part of the town, to be used as his summer residence. And the restructuring wanted by the king, led the castle to be one of the most unitary and harmonious works of the Sicilian Middle Ages. In the castle you can admire the royal chapel of the Byzantine era, which according to some scholars would guard the remains of Arnaldo da Villanova.
What Montalbano Elicona offers
For a journey through history and traditions, as well as to discover its artistic beauties, in Montalbano Elicona you will find many artisan shops that manufacture "furrizzi", "panari", baskets of hazelnut and cane branches, medieval-themed Sicilian ceramics and yarns. Among its churches to visit is the Duomo, which dates back to the XNUMXth-XNUMXth century. It has a single nave and the building was enlarged in the seventeenth century with the addition of two aisles. The castle medieval, instead, it was born as a military garrison. In it there are many exhibits to admire, one dedicated to the White Arms and one on medieval musical instruments, five centuries of music from the eleventh to the fifteenth century.
Montalbano and its "tastes"
But as mentioned, this Sicilian village is also worth visiting for its delicacies. From Cimino biscuits, or nuvolette, made with hazelnuts, or aniseed breadsticks, and then provola and other local delicacies and productions. Among them also pasta and beans, fava a maccu and macaroni. Dishes embellished with spices and also other products such as pork rind, grated ricotta in the macaroni with pork sauce. In short, for a journey through medieval history and the rediscovery of ancient traditions, Montalbano is a village to be discovered.
The photos are taken from the Facebook page Città di Montalbano Elicona
Wow