Castanea delle Furie: terrace overlooking the two seas
What to see, things to do, what to eat, interesting facts
State: ME - Area: Messina surroundings
Castanea delle furie is a small village nestled on the Sarrizzo hills of the Peloritani Mountains. Due to its panoramic position it is undoubtedly a place of great charm: from its heights it is in fact possible to admire both the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts at the same time. There is very little information about the origins of this village, it is believed that its foundation occurred in the same period in which nearby Messina was born, but in a position probably slightly more exposed towards the Tyrrhenian Sea than that occupied by today's town. In the medieval period, due to the strategic importance of the place, around which the entire communication system around Messina revolved, it was first a possession of the military order of the Knights of Malta, and subsequently of the Jerusalem Knights. Starting from the 19th century, Castanea delle Furie became a highly appreciated holiday resort: European aristocrats and rulers chose this village as a summer residence as attested by documents and testimonies in the numerous villas remaining in the area.
Where is Castanea delle Furie located? Castanea delle Furie is a municipality in the province of Messina. It rises at about 300 meters above sea level, about 8 km from the Tyrrhenian coast. It is 15 km from the city of Messina, 63 km from the city of Taormina, 100 km from the city of Catania and 235 km from the city of Palermo. Its territory falls within the area of the Peloritani Mountains.
How to reach Castanea delle Furie? The simplest way to reach Castanea delle Furie is to use your own car and take the A 20 Messina - Palermo motorway, exit at the junction for Messina Viale Giostra, SP50, until you reach Bivio Bortella and follow the signs for Castanea. Castanea delle Furie is about 10 km from the motorway exit.
Castanea delle Furie does not have its own train station so those who want to travel by train must refer to the nearest train stations and from there take a bus or shuttle to the town. The closest train station to Castanea delle Furie is Messina.
What is the best time to visit Castanea delle Furie?
Castanea delle Furie can be visited all year round: the welcome and warmth of the Sicilians will amaze you.
But for an unforgettable experience, admiring the colors, tasting the flavors and fully experiencing the traditions, it is advisable to plan a visit on the days of one of the festivals that take place in Castanea delle Furie during the year.
If you want to know about upcoming festivals and events Click here and you will find a list of the most important ones.
What to see in Castanea delle Furie
Castanea delle Furie possessed a rich historical-cultural heritage but natural disasters, the earthquake of 1908, and historical events, the bombings of the Second World War, have significantly impoverished it. Despite the damage suffered, Castanea delle Furie retains a complex urban structure, with buildings, churches and works of art dating from the early Middle Ages to the eclecticism of the early twentieth century. Among the religious buildings, of particular interest are: the Church of San Giovanni Battista, the main place of worship in the village, dedicated to the Patron Saint; the Church of Santa Caterina, one of the few religious buildings not destroyed by the earthquake; the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, with a centuries-old history, destroyed and rebuilt after the earthquake; the Peace Church of Santa Elisabetta, a small and ancient building of worship; the Church of Madonna del Tonnaro and the Church of Santa Rosalia, chapels located a short distance from the town and located in a splendid panoramic position. Of particular interest are the villas of Castanea delle Furie which demonstrate how this village was a much appreciated holiday resort in the 19th century: Villa Sanderson (Villa Rinciari), Castel Vinci, Villa Agresta, Villa Picciotto, Villa Speciale, Villa Caminiti, Villa Miloro, Villa Costarelli, Villa Allegra, Villa Forzano, ... More a place of great interest is the Ethnoanthropological Museum of Castanea delle Furie, considered one of the most important ethnoanthropological and demological museums in Sicily of rural art.
From its 400 meters above sea level you can enjoy a splendid view of the Strait of Messina and the hills that gently slope down to the sea.
Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show, Concerts,... Castanea delle Furie
The living nativity scene of Castanea delle Furie is an event in which the entire community of Castanea takes part. With the participation of around 350 extras and the accurate reconstruction of the working, artisanal and social environments, it is one of the most beautiful living nativity scenes in Sicily. Of particular importance is the Patronal Feast of Saint John the Baptist, which traditionally takes place on 24 June with the solemn procession of the launch with the statue of the Saint through the streets of the village accompanied by the Knights and the Brotherhood and with the great participation of faithful. In the month of September the celebrations in honor of the Madonna delle Grazie take place, which includes a rich religious programme.
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Castanea delle Furie
You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as
cannoli, Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc.
But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.
The hilly area of Castanea delle Furie is suitable for agriculture and livestock farming. The production of cheeses and cured meats is excellent. Particularly renowned is the ricotta infornata dei Monti Peloritani, a ricotta made from sheep and bovine whey dried in salt and then baked. Typical specialties of the village are the Cudduredde by Castanea delle Furie, delicious shortcrust pastry donuts.
Interesting and Fun Facts
Interesting and fun facts, mythology, legend, folk tales and more to know about Castanea delle Furie
