Palazzo Corvaja (sometimes spelt Palazzo Corvaia) is a medieval palace in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, dating from the 10th century. It was principally built at the end of the 14th century and is named after one of the oldest and most famous families of Taormina, which owned it from 1538 to 1945.

On four main floors and constructed around a courtyard, the Moorish Gothic palazzo is crenellated. The principal floor has fenestration of pairs of lancet windows divided by columns. The courtyard walls are decorated by reliefs illustrating The Creation.
History
Corvaja Palace, which is located in Piazza Badia at right angles to the church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, was originally built in the 10th century by the Arabs who then ruled Taormina, having conquered the town in 902. The origins of the palazzo incorporate an early Arab fortress dating from the 10th century, which in turn was constructed on Roman foundations. It was subsequently added to over various periods up until the 15th century. Its main body is an Islamic-style tower, and it has an inner courtyard where the Islamic influence can be seen in the arched windows and doorways. A 13th century staircase leads up to the first floor and an ornamental balcony which overlooks the courtyard.

In 1410, Corvaja Palace housed the Sicilian Parliament. It was renovated in 1945 by Armando Dillo, and as of 2009 it is the seat for the Azienda Autonoma Soggiorno e Turismo.

Today the palazzo is used as an exhibition centre.

Palazzo Corvaia

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Most probably it was the site of the antique acropolis of the Greek town of Taormina. The Romans and later the Byzantines must have strengthened the site. In 902 AD the town fell to the Muslims after a siege of 2 years. They rebuilt the castle into its present form with a trapezoid plan adapted to the shape of the rock and crenellated walls.

You can get to the castle via a staircase that starts from the church of the Madonna della Rocca climbs up to reach the door.

The remains of this fortification are constituted by the imposing tower, the walls on which is implanted a tower, a cistern and an underground corridor.

Today, The castle is unfortunately closed and can not be visited by those tourists who would like to see the wonder of this ancient historic monument and the magnificent panorama from the summit of Mount Tauro.
https://www.icastelli.it

The Saracen Castle 

Forza d'Agrò Castle, locally known as Castello di Forza d'Agrò, lies in the town of the same name, in the Messina province on the island of Sicily in Italy.

Not much is known about the history of Forza d'Agrò Castle. In 1117, during the rule of the Normans, there is mention of the founding of a monastery in the village. The castle was probably also built around that time or not much later in the 12th century. It was probably built on the site of an ancient Greek or Roman fortification.

In the 16th century the castle is already described as being ruinous. But in 1595 the castle underwent major reconstruction works, according to a stone commemorating this, which is still present above the present gate.

In the mid-18th century however the castle was again described as "the remains of an old fortification". In the second half of the 19th century, a church was built inside the castle and from 1876 until 1989 the castle terrain was used as a village cemetery.

In the beginning of the 20th century the castle ruins were also used as a quarry for building materials by the locals.

On a small outcrop in front of the castle there is a small kind of lookout tower which you can enter and from where you can just see Sant'Alessio Castle below, with who it formed a defensive system during the Norman rule of Sicily.

https://www.castles.nl

Forza d'Agrò Castle

Sant'Alessio Castle, locally known as Castello di Sant'Alessio, lies next to the town of Sant'Alessio Siculo, in the Messina province on the island of Sicily in Italy.

When the first fortification at this site was built is unknown. The cape on which the castle is built however is a very strategic point, controlling the road connecting Taormina with Messina below it and overlooking the Ionian Sea. It is most likely that there was a fortification here during the Arab rule of Sicily.

Sant'Alessio Castle was first mentioned in 1117, when it was part of a large donation of land to a monastery, by the Norman King Roger II of Sicily. During Norman rule of Sicily, when building of the present castle started, Sant'Alessio Castle formed a defensive system together with Forza d'Agrò Castle higher up on the mountain.

Sant'Alessio Castle consists of two fortifications on two separate rocks connected by a narrow ridge.

In the beginning of the 15th century an Artale Angelica was made Baron and Lord of Sant'Alessio by King Martin I of Sicily. In 1453 the castle was given to a Tommaso Romano by King Alfonso V of Aragon. It stayed in the Romano family until the mid-16th century, when it went to Antonello, Baron of Furnari, through marriage. In 1608 Sant'Alessio Castle went to a Francesco Romeo Romano.

In 1674 the nearby city of Messina rebelled against the Spanish rule of Sicily. Sant'Alessio Castle was then occupied by Spanish troops who enforced a blockade of food destined for Messina.

In the beginning of the 18th century Sant'Alessio Castle was armed with 3 iron cannons and garrisoned by 15 soldiers and a steward and was one of the most important fortifications in the defense of Messina.

Due to its strategic position the castle was completely restored by the British during the Napoleonic Wars in the beginning of the 19th century. After the unification of Italy the castle became State property and was sold to a Marquess Pietro Mauro.

Even during WW II the castle served a military role when it was occupied by German troops who installed anti-aircraft guns.

At present Sant'Alessio Castle is private property and can thus not be visited. Too bad. A nice castle on a dramatic location.

https://www.castles.nl