Castello di Mola, Norman fortress in Castelmola, Italy.
Castello di Mola is a Norman fortress on a rocky hilltop in Castelmola near Taormina, Sicily, with remaining walls arranged in a concave shape like a millstone. The ruin preserves enough structure to show how the medieval fortification was originally built and organized.
The fortress was built in the 10th century under Constantine, who served as patrician and strategist of Sicily, according to a Greek-Byzantine plaque at the site. The structure was modified over the centuries as it passed through different periods of rule.
The Museum of Sicilian Medieval Life within the castle walls displays regional artifacts and exhibits about how people lived during the Middle Ages in this part of Sicily. You can see everyday objects and crafts that reflect the region's traditions from that era.
Access is through an ancient stone archway that leads to Piazza S. Antonino, paved with white lava stones and lined with local trees that provide shade. The path is straightforward to navigate with good signage throughout the site.
Above the entrance gate is a 1578 inscription with three towers declaring loyalty to the king carved in stone. This carving shows the royal importance the fortress held during that period.
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