Milazzo

Milazzo (Sicilian: Milazzu, Latin: Mylae) is a town (comune) and is the third-largest city in the province of Messina, and is one of the most important cities of Sicily. The city proper has a population of over 32,000 inhabitants, and is the point of reference of a vaste territory, from Villafranca Tirrena to Patti (over 200 thousand inhabitants). Is also, an important centre of the Metropolitan Area Stretto di Messina (who also includes areas of Reggio Calabria), with the near city Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto. Located at the base of a peninsula that juts into the Tyrrhenian Sea with a small promontory, is distant 43 km (26.72 mile), from the capital city.

Its origins are ancient. Inhabited since 4000 BC (Neolithic) Milazzo suffered between the ninth and eighth century a progressive Hellenization which ended with the intervention of the Greeks in 716 BC Zancle. The old "Mylae" Zancle became independent in 550 BC. He fell into the hands of the Athenians in 427 BC and after various vicissitudes, they saw that the contention by the Carthaginians, Greeks and Syracusans, Milazzo was subtracted from the Mamertines Hiero II of Syracuse. Conquered by the Arabs in 843 was fortified and became an important commercial and agricultural center. From 36 BC recognized as a Roman civitas.

Under Norman rule, Swabian, Aragonese and Spanish Milazzo Castle was part of the island's military affairs. In 1718 it was impregnable bulwark against the Spanish soldiers who needlessly and deployment of large forces, besieged it. Milazzo A July 20, 1860 the firm of Sicily Garibaldi crowned with decisive victory over the Bourbons, who took refuge in the castle, had to capitulate.

Until the last century the city was distinguished into three different groups: the walled city where the castle stood, and that was identified with the ancient acropolis greek-Roman urban center, the Village or the Upper Town on the hill slope and the New Town, plain. Many and various are the prehistoric remains found in and around Milazzo, among which the most ancient, dating back to neoliica (4000 BC). The castle, situated in the center of the walled city, is the most significant monument of Milazzo. Started by the Arabs of the oldest foundations, enlarged by the Normans restored and strengthened by Frederick II of Swabia is surrounded by walls with round towers built under Alfonso of Aragon in which a Gothic portal dating from the fourteenth century. Near the castle are the ruins of the fourteenth-century palace of the grand jury and the old cathedral (1603) probably built on a design by architect Camillo Camillians. Of great artistic value, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the baroque Church of the SS.Crucifix of 1629, with inside a wooden canopy of the '700 and a precious wooden crucifix from the first '600 'Humble Petralia.

Over time, the town is moving forward towards the sea by recording a continuous development of agriculture and fishing activities, commercial and industrial. In the agricultural sector is flourishing viticulture, which allows good production of table grapes and wines. Alongside this, crop production has been developing increasingly vegetables and floriculture, which have fueled a strong export to another. Milazzo is also part of a large agricultural area extending from Cape Tindari and Villafranca Tirrena and while is the center of the Plan for Agricultural Development. Good industrial development in recent decades, through the construction of medium and small factories in the industrial area ASI of Giammoro (in the territory of Pace del Mela), and with the presence of a large oil refinery, power plant, a thermal power plant, steel plants, a shipyard, plants for the extraction of the essences of flowers, molitaria factory, factory to the construction of industrial plants, and other small industries devoted primarily to the food industry. Thriving is the craft. The city has a good level of commercial activity, and recently optimized the sector with the presence and expansion of shopping centers and large areas of distribution from national and international brands. The growing industrial and commercial activity of Milazzo and its area, has traced the movement of the port which now holds second place among the Sicilian ports for moving freight and passenger movements for the first place. In the service sector: banks, insurance, advertising, publishing and media at the local level. In these important economic resources has supported the tourism: Milazzo is now a important destination and a great starting point for the Aeolian Islands, the Nebrodi Park, Tindari. There are numerous testimonies, the symbols of the ancient history of the city. Plans are in progress to enter the castle, the fortified town and the ancient village in the sites of UNESCO. The promontory of Capo Milazzo became a marine reserve.

Read more about Milazzo:  History, Main Sights, Transportation, Palaces and Monuments