Castello di Taormina, Medieval castle and museum in Taormina, Italy.
The Castello di Taormina stands at 397 meters elevation on Mount Tauro, offering panoramic views over the Ionian Sea, Etna volcano, and the Alcantara river valley below.
Originally built by Arabs in 902 AD and later reconstructed by Normans, the castle served as a strategic fortress controlling the passage between Catania and Messina for over a millennium.
The fortress complex includes the Madonna della Rocca sanctuary built in 1640, integrating military architecture with religious devotion and representing the spiritual heritage of local communities.
The castle museum operates daily from 10:00 to 20:00 and can be reached via Salita Castello from via Circonvallazione or through Salita Branco from via Dietro i Cappuccini.
The castle features an underground corridor that served as a weapons warehouse and rainwater collection tanks, demonstrating advanced medieval engineering solutions for fortress sustainability.
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