๐ฎ๐น Milazzo is a town in the Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily, southern Italy; it is the largest commune in the Metropolitan City after Messina and Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto.
History Several civilizations settled in Milazzo and left signs of their presence from the Neolithic age. In Homer's Odyssey Milazzo is presumably the place where Ulysses is shipwrecked and meets Polyphemus.
Historically, the town originated as the ancient Mylae (Ancient Greek: ฮฯฮปฮฑฮน), an outpost of Zancle, occupied before 648 BC, perhaps as early as 716 BC. It was taken by the Athenians in 426 BC. The people of Rhegium planted the exiles from Naxos and Catana in 395 BC as a counterpoise to Dionysius the Elder's foundation of Tyndaris; but Dionysius soon took it. In the bay Gaius Duilius won the first Roman naval victory over the Carthaginians (260 BC).
In 36 BC the naval Battle of Mylae was fought offshore. The fleet of Octavian, commanded by Marcus Agrippa, engaged that of Sextus Pompey. While the battle was nearly a draw, Sextus could not replace his losses, and was thus weaker at the following Battle of Naulochus (36 BC), where he was utterly defeated.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, under the Byzantines, the town became one of the first episcopal seats of Sicily. In the 9th century Milazzo was conquered by the Arabs, who built the first nucleus of the castle here. Frederick II of Hohenstaufen further fortified the town and created a personal hunting park. The castle was later mostly rebuilt in the age of Charles V of Spain.
Milazzo was also the seat of a battle in 1718 between Spain and Austria, and of another fought by Giuseppe Garibaldi against the Kingdom of Two Sicilies during his Expedition of the Thousand.
Geography Milazzo borders with the municipalities of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Merรฌ and San Filippo del Mela. Milazzo is the point of reference of a vast territory, from Villafranca Tirrena to Patti (over 200,000 inhabitants). Is also, an important centre of the Strait of Messina Metropolitan Area (who also includes areas of Reggio Calabria), with the nearby town Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto. Located at the base of a peninsula that juts into the Tyrrhenian Sea with a small promontory, the town is 43 km (27ย mi) from the city of Messina.
Economy Over time, the town is moving forward towards the sea by recording a continuous development of agriculture and fishing activities, commercial and industrial.
Transportation The port of Milazzo is a departure point for ferries to the Aeolian Islands and Naples.
Tourist Industry โข Castle of Milazzo. Begun by the Arabs, enlarged by the Normans, restored and strengthened by Frederick II, it is surrounded by walls with round towers built under Alfonso V of Aragon, with a Gothic portal dating from the 14th century. Near the castle are the ruins of the fourteenth-century palace of the grand jury and the old cathedral (1603) probably built on a design by architect Camillo Camillians.
Other sights include: โข the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel โข the Baroque Church of the Holy Crucifix (1629), housing a wooden canopy from the 18th century and a wooden crucifix from the early 17th century. โข Rock church of St. Anthony of Padua โข Sanctuary of St. Francis of Paola.
Milazzo has a population of over 31,500 people. Milazzo also forms part of the wider Messina metropolitan area which has a population of over 277,584 people. Milazzo is situated 10 km north of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto.
Twin Towns - Sister Cities Milazzo has links with:
๐บ๐ธ Martinez, USA๐บ๐ธ Lexington Park 38.25
๐บ๐ธ Louisville 38.254
๐ต๐ฑ Gorzรณw Wielkopolski 15.242
๐ฆ๐น Bruck an der Mur 15.267
๐จ๐ฌ Brazzaville 15.285
๐ฎ๐น Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto 15.221
๐จ๐ฟ Pelhลimov 15.217
๐ฆ๐น Deutschlandsberg 15.2
๐ธ๐ฎ Novo Mesto 15.166
Locations Near: Milazzo 15.2333,38.2167
๐ฎ๐น Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto 15.221,38.148 d: 7.7
๐ฎ๐น Messina 15.553,38.178 d: 28.3
๐ฎ๐น Reggio Calabria 15.652,38.113 d: 38.4
๐ฎ๐น Reggio 15.65,38.1 d: 38.7
๐ฎ๐น Acireale 15.166,37.613 d: 67.4
๐ฎ๐น Palmi 15.849,38.358 d: 56
๐ฎ๐น Catania 15.083,37.5 d: 80.8
๐ฎ๐น Vibo Valentia 16.083,38.667 d: 89.4
๐ฎ๐น Enna 14.267,37.55 d: 112.7
๐ฎ๐น Caltagirone 14.5,37.233 d: 127
Antipodal to: Milazzo -164.767,-38.217
๐น๐ด Nuku'alofa -175.216,-21.136 d: 17867.8
๐ฆ๐ธ Pago Pago -170.701,-14.279 d: 17290
๐ผ๐ธ Apia -171.76,-13.833 d: 17217.4
๐ต๐ซ Papeete -149.566,-17.537 d: 17281.6
๐บ๐ธ Hilo -155.089,19.725 d: 13493.4
๐บ๐ธ Maui -156.446,20.72 d: 13404.2
๐บ๐ธ Maui County -156.617,20.868 d: 13390.3
๐บ๐ธ Wailuku -156.505,20.894 d: 13385.9