- UNESCO
Photo: OAnick, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Castle
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 38°11′46″ N, 15°32′27″ E
- Address
- salita Castellaccio
History and description
Forte Castellaccio is an abandoned hilltop fortress in Messina, Sicily built by Juan de Vega, Viceroy of Sicily around the middle of the 16th Century as part of a defensive project ordered by Emperor Charles V of Habsburg. It was designed by the Italian military architect Antonio Ferramolino (died. 1550). It was damaged by the 1908 Messina earthquake before being briefly reused as a 'colony for boys' in the 1940s. Despite several attempts to renovate the site since, it has remained abandoned and considered locally to be haunted by the ghosts of orphans and by the apparition of a nun.
Description
The fortress stands on a hill between Gravitelli and Montepiselli, a short distance from Forte Gonzaga, another 16th Century defensive structure also built by Juan de Vega and designed by Antonio Ferramolino. The original structure has a quadrangular design and is annexed by several more modern buildings, all now in a state of dereliction.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Forte Castellaccio».
Getting there
Messina CentraleTrain, nearest
2.2 km as the crow flies
Forte Castellacciosalita Castellaccio
Messina Cruise Terminal1.5 km
Aeroporto di Reggio Calabria - Tito Minniti16.6 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore castles in Sicily
Frequently asked questions
Where is Forte Castellaccio?
Forte Castellaccio is in Messina, in the province of Messina (Sicily), Italy. Address: salita Castellaccio. GPS coordinates: 38.19612, 15.54081.
What else is there to see near Forte Castellaccio?
Nearby you’ll find: Forte Gonzaga (900 m away), Fortifications of Messina (1 km away), Mategriffon (1 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 1 photos
- Forte Castellaccio (Messina) — OAnick, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences