Castillo de Castelmola
Castillo de Castelmola
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
674 reviews
Excellent
324
Very good
259
Average
71
Poor
11
Terrible
9
Trakkarclay2
San Jose, CA21 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
The main source of revenue is parking tickets. They love to give parking tickets that can cost more than $100. They will give you a parking ticket in Castlemola within minutes. Park in the parking lot and make sure you leave someone in the car while you pay your $2 to get your parking receipt. The elevator does not work. Rubble castle at the top. View is good. Can see Mt Etna.
Written March 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WitchyYork
Strensall, UK1,403 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
The castle is derelict, it’s the view you really come for.
A steep climb up of around 40 mins to the village but easy walking back down 30 mins to our hotel, Villa Ducale. Worth every bit for the views from the top of the village and the almond wine!
A steep climb up of around 40 mins to the village but easy walking back down 30 mins to our hotel, Villa Ducale. Worth every bit for the views from the top of the village and the almond wine!
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margaret W
Fife, Scotland202 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Castelmola can be reached by regular bus from Taormina. It takes approx 15 minutes up a series of hairpin bends. Definitely don't recommend driving it or walking it! There's not a great deal to see at the castle itself. However, the views are stunning. We were fortunate to visit on a clear sunny day allowing great views of snow-capped Mount Etna.
Written May 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carl M
Sarasota, FL201 contributions
Feb 2020
If you are not an athlete, you best take the bus to get to Castelmola. A splendid old village stuck on top of the mountain overlooking Taormina and offering spectacular views of Mt. Etna. Many tourist shops offering local handicrafts, but mainly the local wine made from almonds, Mandorla. Pier de Cat, a local Sicilian Bistro at the busstop will evn teach you how to drink it properly. Ice cold, with a rind of the delicious local orange, sipping it slowly is the real thing.
A climb up to the castle is invigorating, but offers only the remnants of the original walls. However, an even better view of Mt. Etna.
A climb up to the castle is invigorating, but offers only the remnants of the original walls. However, an even better view of Mt. Etna.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kirsty
31 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Great wee spot. Lovely views from the village and castle. Quite a steep climb up from Taormina but definitely manageable if you have a decent level of fitness. There is also a bus that goes from Taormina if you prefer. Some lovely wee cafes/restaurants at the top too!
Written April 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noraatc
Sudbury, MA39,236 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
One of the planned hikes during our three days stay in Taormina was the walk from Taormina to Castelmola, which has become the highlight of our visit. We stayed at the lovely Villa Ducale, half-way from Castelmola, and started our hike from there following very clear signs. The hike is really steep (beware!), but the narrow path, tucked between the mighty rocks covered with gorgeous purple flowers, blossoming cactuses and orange trees, is well-maintained and not slippery. The views along the way are stunningly beautiful - rugged mountains strikingly contrasting with the bright blue colors of the sea below, tiny villages on the hilltops, and the ruins of the Castle perched on the summit will stay in our memories forever. After 45 minutes hike up, we finally reached the central piazza of Castelmola and the promenade where you will be spoiled for choices of amazing photo ops.
From the piazza, the signs will lead you uphill to the ruins of the thirteenth-century Castello. Actually, there is nothing left from the original Norman Castle; the ruins date back to the 16th century. There is not much left from the 16th century Castle either, but the landscapes from the top are totally breathtaking...
After taking a lot of pictures, we stroled along the charming old streets of Castelmola for a while and finally started our descent to Taormina passing Villa Ducale along the way. The walk from Villa Ducale to Taormina is easier: the steps are very well maintained and there are several vista point platforms, including the one at the Church carved in the rock - the Church of Madonna Della Rocca. We descended to Corso Umberto right in time for a cup of espresso with divine cannoli. Well deserved calories intake after such a strenuous walk!
For those, who do not want to walk, there is a little tour bus running from Taormina to Castelmola (the fare is 6€, I believe), but you really have to hike to enjoy the beauty of the sweeping vistas in full, if you are in good health. Wear good hiking shoes and enjoy the most rewarding workout!
From the piazza, the signs will lead you uphill to the ruins of the thirteenth-century Castello. Actually, there is nothing left from the original Norman Castle; the ruins date back to the 16th century. There is not much left from the 16th century Castle either, but the landscapes from the top are totally breathtaking...
After taking a lot of pictures, we stroled along the charming old streets of Castelmola for a while and finally started our descent to Taormina passing Villa Ducale along the way. The walk from Villa Ducale to Taormina is easier: the steps are very well maintained and there are several vista point platforms, including the one at the Church carved in the rock - the Church of Madonna Della Rocca. We descended to Corso Umberto right in time for a cup of espresso with divine cannoli. Well deserved calories intake after such a strenuous walk!
For those, who do not want to walk, there is a little tour bus running from Taormina to Castelmola (the fare is 6€, I believe), but you really have to hike to enjoy the beauty of the sweeping vistas in full, if you are in good health. Wear good hiking shoes and enjoy the most rewarding workout!
Written February 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobalCit59
Rome, Italy183 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Don't miss this gem. Drive as far up the hill along the torturous windy narrow road from Taormino to nearly the top where there is public parking. Then do the last bit on foot to the piazza. From here, go up to the Castle ruins for a tremendous view of Mt Etna, the coast, sea and Taormino. Back at the piazza, sit at the cafe for an almond wine.
Written December 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YacchanAmarone
Bangkok, Thailand40,502 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
The view from Castelmola was very nice with the combination of the blue ocean and Ethna mountain. Nobody will disagree that here is MUST visit. However, a part of Taormina town cannot be seen since it is hidden behind the hill. If you want to look down Taormina, the view from Madona della Rocca would be more beautiful.
BTW, I got to Castelmola by car and parked it on road side, 100 meter away from the view point. What I did not know was that the parked area was only for the resident, and I got a 'ticket' from the police. The penalty was 40 EUR and it was not so cheap. Also, since I could not read Italian written in the ticket, it took several hours to finish the payments (Finally, I found that I needed to go to post office, not bank, for the payment. The post office was located at the entrance of Taormina). The parking space is located at 300 meter away from the view point, and it was a bit exhausting to climb up to the view point. Please take care.
BTW, I got to Castelmola by car and parked it on road side, 100 meter away from the view point. What I did not know was that the parked area was only for the resident, and I got a 'ticket' from the police. The penalty was 40 EUR and it was not so cheap. Also, since I could not read Italian written in the ticket, it took several hours to finish the payments (Finally, I found that I needed to go to post office, not bank, for the payment. The post office was located at the entrance of Taormina). The parking space is located at 300 meter away from the view point, and it was a bit exhausting to climb up to the view point. Please take care.
Written July 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew P
London, UK26 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
Do not visit this town in your car. The town is running a very nice side business of issuing parking fines to tourists. A single sign facing in 1 direction only (and easily missed) designates the residential parking area. Many tourists had parked in this area and had received fines - we were there for about 10 minutes. The fine is then difficult to pay. We the. wasted an hour driving around to find a post office that was open where we could pay the fine.
Written July 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sbizzle
Ludlow, UK1,558 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
The taxi wasn’t cheap - €20- and the walk down very hard on our poor thighs! But the time at Castelmola was worth the trip, to get stunning views made all the better for the further climb up to the ruined castle.
The walk down starts via stairs to the side of the road near the café, passing a house called Casa Sara across a car park.
The walk down starts via stairs to the side of the road near the café, passing a house called Casa Sara across a car park.
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You can drive up to Castelmola and there is plenty of parking. However if you go in the busy season, you have to go early before 9.30am because the parking will be full.
Written October 30, 2015
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