San Niceto Castle

The Castle of San Niceto (or Sant'Aniceto) in Motta San Giovanni, in the province of Reggio Calabria, is located on a gently sloping plateau, a strategic position that allowed control of the salt pans and the Strait of Messina in medieval times. Even today, the Castle of Motta San Giovanni is one of the most picturesque viewpoints over Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. The original Byzantine nucleus was built for defensive purposes in the 11th century, but it was first mentioned as a “castrum” in 1268. Under the Aragonese, it underwent numerous works and was then annexed to Reggio Calabria in 1459.

Recently restored, the Castle of San Niceto now presents itself with its monumental charm, freely open to visitors and hosting summer events: the irregular layout of the enclosure delimits the area of the ruins, which include a tower containing a cistern for collecting rainwater, a sacred building and a palace leaning against the walls. There is no trace of private buildings, so it is likely that the buildings within the walls were all used for the activities of officials and troops. The entrance gate, with a round arch, is set between two monumental square-based towers, built directly on the rock. The left tower is accessible via a stone staircase that leads directly to the upper floor.