Castello di Milazzo, Medieval fortress in Milazzo, Sicily.
Castello di Milazzo is a hilltop fortress in Sicily with multiple levels of fortifications descending from the summit to the town below. The complex is defined by ancient stone walls and towers that reveal different construction phases.
Frederick II of Hohenstaufen transformed the existing Norman fortification into a massive fortress in 1239. Subsequent centuries brought further military modifications under different rulers.
The fortress holds the Duomo Vecchio and remnants of the Palazzo dei Giurati, showing how the medieval community was organized. These structures remain visible today as reminders of where civic and religious life centered.
The path to reach the fortress is Salita Castello, which winds through the old town section with guided tours available on summer afternoons. The route follows typical medieval access routes, with narrow streets and some steep sections.
The fortress incorporates structures from seven different historical periods, from Neolithic foundations through Greek, Roman, and Norman buildings to Swabian, Aragonese, and Spanish constructions. This archaeological layering reveals the many occupations and rebuildings the site experienced.
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