Perched on Mount Sant’Elia, in the heart of the Agr\u00f2 Valley, Casalvecchio Siculo is one of those villages that reveal themselves slowly, following the pace of its narrow streets, underpasses and stairways that form a medieval urban layout. A few kilometres from the Ionian coast and not far from Taormina, it retains an authentic identity, made up of silence, ancient stone and sudden glimpses of the Strait of Messina, Calabria and, on clear days, Mount Etna. With its Byzantine memories, Arab and Norman layers and the extraordinary presence of the church of Santi Pietro e Paolo d’Agr\u00f2, the village offers an intense journey into the real Sicily, far from the beaten track.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Casalvecchio Siculo, a medieval village in the Agr\u00f2 Valley, with narrow streets, arches and views of the Strait and Mount Etna. Discover its history, churches and traditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":375121,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"the-village":"
Casalvecchio Siculo, known as Casaluv\u00e8cchiu in dialect, is a small municipality with around 700 inhabitants in the metropolitan city of Messina, located in the Valle d'Agr\u00f2 area and part of the Union of Municipalities of the Joniche<\/strong> dei Peloritani Valleys<\/strong>. It is located 370 metres above sea level, perched halfway up Mount Sant'Elia, 39 kilometres from Messina, about 16 kilometres from Taormina and a few kilometres from the Ionian coast.<\/p>\n The town follows the contours of the land, with an urban layout that retains clear medieval characteristics: narrow streets, underpasses, stairways and arches reminiscent of Arabic and Spanish architecture. From the natural terraces and panoramic viewpoints, the view opens up onto a wide and evocative landscape that encompasses the Strait of Messina, the Calabrian coast, the Ionian Sea, the hills of Savoca and, on clear days, a glimpse of Mount Etna.<\/p>\n The origins of Casalvecchio are ancient and date back at least to the Byzantine era. Its first documented name was Palachorion, a Greek-Sicilian term meaning 'old farmhouse', later translated into Latin as Rus Vetus. During the Emirate of Sicily, the town took the name Calathabieth, reflecting the cultural stratifications that marked the entire area of the Agr\u00f2 Valley.<\/p>\n In 1139, with the foundation of Savoca by Roger II of Altavilla, Casalvecchio lost its autonomy and was subjected to the new Terra di Savoca together with the other surrounding hamlets, the so-called Sarracinorum Pagi. Over the centuries, there were numerous attempts to regain independence: one of the most significant took place in 1603, when the village briefly obtained autonomy from the jurisdiction of Savoca, which was then revoked in 1606 by the Curia Straticoziale of Messina.<\/p>\n Civil and ecclesiastical autonomy was definitively regained between 1793 and 1795 thanks to a Royal Decree and the efforts of Friar Ludovico di Ges\u00f9 Maria. After the unification of Italy in 1862, the municipality took on its current name of Casalvecchio Siculo to distinguish itself from the town of the same name in Puglia.<\/p>\n An important chapter in local history concerns the presence of a significant Jewish community until 1492. Documents from the 15th century attest that between Savoca and Casalvecchio there were about 250-300 Jews, many of whom lived in the centre of Casalvecchio. They were mainly weavers and dyers, but also iron and silk workers, as well as vine and sugar cane growers. Even today, the historic centre still has a 'Strada della Judeca' (Jewish Street), a tangible reminder of their presence.<\/p>\n With the edict of expulsion issued in 1492 by King Ferdinand II, the Jewish community was forced to leave the area, but they left a significant mark on the economic and cultural development of the region.<\/p>\n Among the most representative monuments is the 18th-century church of Sant'Onofrio Anacoreta<\/strong><\/a>, a splendid example of Sicilian Baroque. Located at the top of a scenic staircase, it has a harmonious fa\u00e7ade and an interior richly decorated with inlaid marble and vibrant colours, in keeping with the exuberant style typical of the island's art at the time.<\/p>\nFrom its Byzantine origins to its current name<\/h4>\n
The Jewish community and craft activities<\/h4>\n
Churches and Baroque art<\/h4>\n