The history of Aci Castello (Castle of Aci) is intertwined with that of Acireale. In fact, legend has it that it was on the coast of Aci Castello… specifically, in the stretch from the hamlet of Aci Trezza to the village of Capomulini… that the tragedy of Akis and Galatea took place! And it was here that the first nucleus of the city was born, which was later rebuilt on the Timpa plateau and became Acireale. The town of Aci Castello separated from the Aci district in 1647, shortly after Acireale was declared a feud of the king, which made it different and special from the other towns.
Why the castle?
Why this name? Because the town is built around a large black stone castle, a spectacular lava fortress built in the 11th century when the Norman knights reconquered Islamic Sicily.
To be exact, the first to build a fort on that rocky spur (an ancient lava dike emerged from an underwater eruption) were the Romans. It served as a military defense for centuries and was expanded by the Byzantines. Destroyed during the Arab age, it was rebuilt by the Normans, who turned it into a defensive and residential palace.
In this castle, on August 17, 1126, the Bishop of Catania received the relics of Saint Agatha, recovered from Constantinople and brought back to their hometown by sea. It was from the castle of Aci that the joyous procession departed, reaching the city’s cathedral hours later.
The castle today
The castle of Aci has survived to this day. It still stands on the same promontory of lava rock, overlooking the Ionian Sea, and can be accessed via a long staircase carved into the stone and supported by iron steps.
Once inside, you cross a small courtyard and immediately find yourself in the “donjon”, the central quadrangular tower. Although much of the castle’s residential building has now disappeared, new spaces have been created—perfectly in keeping with the castle’s medieval style—to house the Aci Castello Civic Museum. The museum displays geological and anthropological artifacts discovered both in the area and under the sea. On May 23, 2012, the municipality chose to name a room in the castle after Jean Calogero (1922-2001), a famous painter whose art brought Sicilian (and Castello) landscapes to the world.
The castle’s main terrace has now been transformed into a beautiful hanging botanical garden. In addition to the various species of plants typical of the Mediterranean, which can be admired here, the terrace offers a marvelous view of the Aci Castello coast. Another terrace, at the top of the “donjon,” houses an ancient cannon and overlooks the town’s panorama from above. Aci Castello Castle is widely used for civil wedding ceremonies, rivaling the elegance of the surrounding beautiful churches as a scenario.
Getting to Aci Castello
Aci Castello is located halfway between Catania and Acireale and just 53 km from Taormina. To get there, simply take the A18 Catania-Messina motorway and exit at Acireale. From there, follow the signs for the SS 114 (Litoranea Rd) and in less than 15 minutes—traffic permitting—you’ll be there. Arriving from Catania Airport, you can follow the Tangenziale (ring road) to the Paesi Etnei exit and head towards Aci Castello from San Gregorio di Catania. (PHOTOS BY G. MUSUMECI)